Moab man arrested for child endangerment after 9-year-old allegedly overdoses on LSD

MOAB, Utah (ABC4) — A Moab father has been arrested after his child allegedly overdosed on a hallucinogen that was in his possession.

Kevin Jackson Barnett, 40, is facing potential charges of child endangerment resulting in bodily injury, reckless endangerment, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

According to documents, on July 2, dispatch was contacted about a 9-year-old child who had overdosed on the hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide, a Schedule I drug known as LSD. Emergency medical services (EMS) responded to a vehicle that had pulled over on the side of the road.

An officer with the Moab Police Department arrived at the scene and saw EMS escorting the 9-year-old child to the ambulance. The officer asked the child’s mother what had happened, and she explained that she and her child had been bowling with her ex-husband, the child’s father, when she observed something concerning.

The 9-year-old child was holding a container with a marking that looked like a question mark or “S” on the front of it. Barnett then took this container from the child. Due to past experiences, the mother told police that she believed Barnett stored LSD in the container. This concern caused her to immediately leave the bowling alley to take her child to the hospital.

While driving her 9-year-old child to the hospital, she pulled over to the side of the road and attempted to make the child vomit, according to documents. At this point, the mother contacted 911 to report the overdose. The mother and child were taken to the Moab Regional Hospital by ambulance.

When the officer arrived at the hospital, the mother was allegedly speaking on the phone with Barnett. Documents say that he was refusing to tell her where he was and would not come to the hospital. Another officer who arrived at the hospital first said that Barnett had admitted that the container contained LSD, and he didn’t know how much the child had consumed.

The mother of the 9-year-old told police Barnett’s address, and another officer left to visit the residence. The officer on scene went to see the child victim and observed that they were lethargic, had dilated pupils, disorganized speech, forgetfulness, and trouble following conversation.

The officer who had responded to Barnett’s home contacted the officer still at the hospital and said that Barnett allegedly refused to speak with police. Barnett was arrested and transported to the Grand County Jail. Search warrants were obtained for the residence and vehicle, and the officer at the hospital went to the residence.

Inside the vehicle, two oxycodone pills were located. A search of Barnett’s home allegedly turned up a THC marijuana cartridge and a plastic bag with white powder, which was later tested and found to be cocaine.

Barnett refused to speak with police, according to documents. He is currently being held without bail at the Grand County Jail.