Woman jailed on felony drug, child neglect charges after daughter stuck with needle

A Carson City woman was arrested on felony charges of child neglect and possession of a controlled substance after officers learned the woman’s 4-year-old daughter had been stuck with a hypodermic needle, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Christine Rael, 19, is being held on $41,387 bail. A 26-year-old Dayton man, Joseph Kendall, was also arrested at the woman’s residence, in the 900 block of Woodside Drive, on suspicion of drug trafficking after a backpack with heroin was discovered. His bail has been set at $20,000.

According to the arrest report, officers went to the residence Thursday after being informed that a few days prior the girl had been injured with her mother's hypodermic needle. The officer knocked on the door that was opened by the four-year-old girl. Officers announced they were there, and asked the girl where her mom was.

Both Rael and Kendall were in a bedroom and appeared under the influence of drugs. The officer asked if he could speak with Rael outside the residence and she agreed. The officer informed her of the reason he was there. She denied that her child had been poked in the finger with a hypodermic needle used by her, however she did admit to being a heroin addict, the arrest report states.

The officer spoke with the child and asked her about her injury. She showed her left middle finger next to her fingernail and said “it hurt.” Officers observed a small needle poke on the outside of her fingernail. The officer asked the girl what happened. The girl said it was “Mommy’s needle,” the arrest report states.

The officer then spoke with Rael and asked where the needles and heroin are in the home. The officer followed her and located a hypodermic needle on the foot of the bed and she pointed to a metal lock box and voluntarily unlocked the box pulling out a white plastic bowl containing more hypodermic devices as well as spoons with burnt residue, cotton swabs and other paraphernalia for drug injection use. Inside the bowl was a cylinder that contained three small chunks of black tar heroin, the report states.

The officer asked if he could search the residence for more drugs. The woman gave the officer verbal consent that he could. He searched a backpack and found numerous bindles or balloons with heroin. The woman advised it was not her backpack. Kendell stated it was his, the arrest report states.
At the station, Rael admitted to being a daily heroin user and to receiving heroin from many as well as from Kendall, the arrest report states.

In other arrests:
— A 25-year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday, 11:05 p.m. in the 1000 block of Woodside Drive on a gross misdemeanor charge of possession of a dangerous weapon, and misdemeanor charges of domestic battery and contempt of court.
According to the arrest report, officers arrived at the location for a report of domestic battery. Officers observed the victim with a bloody lip and the suspect being in possession of a Taser. The suspect told officers he was an ex-felon and knew he wasn’t supposed to have the Taser. Bail: $5,880.

— A 50-year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday, 8:42 p.m. in the 700 block of Silver Oak Drive on a misdemeanor warrant for DUI issued March 31 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $1,000.

— An 18-year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday, 6:08 p.m. in the 3200 block of Market Street on a misdemeanor charge of larceny. The man was detained for shoplifting after security observed him go to the electronics section at Walmart, selecting several phone cases, and then went to the menswear department where he concealed the items on him. He then went to the self-checkout and paid for soda and chips but not for the items concealed. He was confronted by store security. Bail: $352.

— A 53-year-old Carson City man was arrested on a contempt of court warrant issued Aug. 19, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $280.

— A 30-year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday, 6:47 p.m. in the 200 block of Carson Meadows on a misdemeanor warrant, violation of probation, issued Jan. 29, 2015 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $3,000.

— A 57-year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday, 11:10 p.m. in the 500 block of East William Street on a misdemeanor warrant, probation violation, issued Dec. 16, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $3,000.

Those arrested and facing criminal charges are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.