By Tracie Sullivan, for Iron County Today
A mother and daughter were arrested late Thursday night following a traffic stop on Interstate 15 in southern Iron County, leading to multiple drug charges.
Emily Kim Carbaugh, 22, and Cheri Kim Carbaugh, 65, were booked into Iron County Jail early Friday morning. Each faces one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, a third-degree felony, along with several misdemeanor charges related to drug possession and paraphernalia.
According to court documents from the 5th District Court, the incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on June 13 when a Utah Highway Patrol trooper observed a vehicle with a faulty tail light traveling southbound on Interstate 15 near mile marker 46. Upon stopping the vehicle, the trooper saw a colorful pipe with white residue in the center console.
Cheri Carbaugh, the front seat passenger, claimed the pipe belonged to a friend. When the trooper asked her to hand over a pack of cigarettes she was holding, he allegedly found a bag of methamphetamine inside. Carbaugh insisted the drugs belonged to a previous passenger.
After placing Cheri Carbaugh under arrest, the trooper noticed the driver, Emily Carbaugh, had bloodshot eyes and droopy eyelids. Emily admitted to using drugs a few days prior and revealed she was two months pregnant and used fentanyl, according to the affidavit.
Emily Carbaugh later consented to a blood draw at Cedar City Hospital before both women were booked into Iron County Jail.
Additional drugs, including suspected fentanyl pills and buprenorphine naloxone (suboxone), along with various drug paraphernalia were also found in a further search of the car.
Cheri Carbaugh faces multiple charges including use or possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Emily Carbaugh faces similar charges, including possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a measurable controlled substance, and a violation for the faulty tail light.