3 Southern Utahns arrested in Mesquite for allegedly trafficking heroin, meth

Stock image | St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Police have arrested three Southern Utahns – two of whom were arrested in 2016 in connection with a Cedar City murder – for their alleged involvement in trafficking and selling heroin and crystal meth in Mesquite, Nevada.

Michelle Partridge, of Panguitch, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 14, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Mesquite Police Department, St. George News

Mesquite Police narcotics detectives were able to close an ongoing drug investigation by taking four suspects, including three women and a man, into custody Wednesday morning, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the Mesquite Police Department.

The suspects allegedly had been trafficking and selling heroin and crystal meth in the area over the last several months, according to the statement.

After taking the suspects into custody, detectives served a search warrant on a hotel room occupied by the suspects along with their vehicle, police said, adding:

Inside both the hotel room and vehicle, detectives seized more illegal drugs and multiple items of drug paraphernalia.

Elcha Hatch, of Panguitch, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 14, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Mesquite Police Department, St. George News

Michelle Partridge, 46, of Panguitch, was arrested and charged with three felony counts of selling a controlled substance (heroin); one felony count of selling a controlled substance (meth); three felony counts of conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act; two felony counts of trafficking a controlled substance (meth); one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (meth); 84 felony counts of possession of a schedule IV controlled substance; and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Elcha Hatch, 20, of Panguitch, was arrested and charged with one felony count of selling a controlled substance (meth); one felony count of possession to sell a controlled substance (meth); one felony count of possession to sell a controlled substance (heroin); one felony count of conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act; and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brian Hughes, of Panguitch, Utah, booking photo posted Feb. 14, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Mesquite Police Department, St. George News

Brian Hughes, of Panguitch, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of attempted sell of a controlled substance (meth).

Veronica Molina, 30, of Beaver Dam, Arizona, was arrested and charged with one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (heroin) and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Molina was also arrested on an active felony arrest warrant.

Due to the felony charges, all four suspects were transported and booked into the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Partridge and Hatch both have criminal records, according to court documents.

Veronica Molina, of Beaver Dam, Arizona, booking photo posted Feb. 14, 2018 | Photo courtesy of Mesquite Police Department, St. George News

The mother and daughter duo was charged in July 2016 in connection with the murder of 34-year-old Cedar City resident Justin Hanna.

Partridge and Hatch were arrested on second-degree felony warrants for obstruction of justice after they allegedly helped the suspect in the fatal shooting, Mark Mair, flee the area, according to Cedar City Police.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

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11 Comments

  • Foxyheart February 20, 2018 at 5:48 pm

    Drug faces. Why would someone use drugs that make themselves very unattractive? Ruddy skin, pimples, worn looking, etc. Wise up.

    • Lastdays February 20, 2018 at 7:11 pm

      Yea, but the mullet was spot on…….

    • Real Life February 20, 2018 at 8:07 pm

      A fine looking bunch.

    • Honor1st February 21, 2018 at 7:19 am

      Because the first week they feel fabulous . . .
      after that they are oblivious to the changes and are just seeking week 1 Forever .

  • jaybird February 20, 2018 at 8:35 pm

    Yeah, a band of real lookers…

  • PlanetU February 20, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    Mom and daughter, sweet. What a role model mom is. And the dude and his hair from the 80’s, very attractive. LOSERS! Get real jobs, too late now tho.

  • comments February 20, 2018 at 9:12 pm

    hope they get clean and turn things around. meth is a hellish poison, heroin too

    • comments February 20, 2018 at 9:17 pm

      prison will do them good

      • Striker4 February 21, 2018 at 2:18 am

        and the Prophet Bob has declared death his justice has spoken

  • Honor1st February 21, 2018 at 7:18 am

    Hmmmm . . . 4 zombie stares , is this what all the zombie movies are really based on ?

  • LunchboxHero February 21, 2018 at 10:31 am

    This is your face. This is your face on drugs. Any questions? Drugs are bad, mmkay…

    I can’t help but appreciate Billy Bob’s mullet, straight from a 1985 Iron Maiden concert. That thing belongs in the Smithsonian!

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