Intoxicated juveniles drive around a parking lot shouting at people with the car doors open
- Travis Uresk
- Nov 14, 2024
- 3 min read
By Travis Uresk
11/14/24
| Vernal, Ut. | November 9th, 2024 |
Around midnight, Officer Escobedo received a call regarding several individuals driving around in a blue Nissan Sentra, shouting at people in the Walmart parking lot and driving away with the car doors open.
Once one of the juveniles in the vehicle was identified, officers began searching for the vehicle in the areas the individual frequently visited.
The vehicle was located at 125 North 600 West in the Vernal area, and Officer Escobedo approached the vehicle's occupants. While officers were next to the vehicle, they could smell the odor of alcohol and marijuana.
His Utah Driver's license identified the driver as 19-year-old Orion John Sadlier and four other occupants, all juveniles. This was at approximately 11:29 pm, an hour and twenty-nine minutes past curfew for three of the juveniles who were under the age of 16.
Two opened bottles of alcohol were found on the floorboard of the vehicle by the rear passenger seat. Also found in Orion's possession was a nicotine vape pen.
Orion was asked to exit the vehicle and about the alcohol. He stated he had a couple of shots earlier in the day, around 7:30 pm.
Orion told Officer Escobedo he and some of the juveniles took turns smoking marijuana, and he shared the alcohol with them as well.
At this time they began the field sobriety tests.
Based on the tests, it was determined that Orion had been operating a motor vehicle and was under the influence to the degree that he could not operate it safely.
Officer Escobedo placed Orion under arrest for DUI and conducted a search. During the search, the officer discovered a second nicotine vape pen in Orion's sock on his right foot. In the vehicle, a THC vape pen was found in the center console, as well as four more nicotine vape pens.
Orion Sadlier was transported Orion to the Uintah County Jail, where he was booked on the following charges:
Driving Under the Influence
Possession/Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor
Open Container in a Vehicle
Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana)
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
Possession of Tobacco by a Minor
Tobacco, electronic Cigarette, and Nicotine Laws and Sales
Underage sales
The percentage of Utah tobacco retailers who sold tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, or nicotine products to individuals younger than 21 during underage sale investigations was 7.3% in the fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023).
The rates of non-compliance for the last 3 fiscal years have been:
7.3% for fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023)
8.8% for fiscal year 2022 (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022)
10.6% for fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021)
Retailers play an important role in reducing access to tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, and nicotine products to individuals younger than 21.
Federal law requires a tobacco retailer to check the photo identification of a customer buying tobacco if the customer is younger than 27 (21 C.F.R. § 1140.14(b)).
Beginning September 30, 2024, retailers must check the photo identification of customers buying tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, if the customer is younger than 30 years old. (21 C.F.R. § 1140.14(b))
Law enforcement agencies are required to investigate the sale of tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, and nicotine products to underage individuals a minimum of two times within a 12-month period at each retailer that sells these products. Additional investigations are allowed if there is reasonable suspicion to believe the establishment has sold a tobacco product, an electronic cigarette product, or a nicotine product to an individual younger than 21 (Utah Code § 77-39-101).
These underage sale investigations are conducted using individuals younger than 21 in coordination with the police and local health departments. The underage individual is sent into the business to purchase a tobacco product, an electronic cigarette product, or a nicotine product. Stores that sell tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, or nicotine products to individuals younger than 21, are issued fines, and may not be allowed to sell these products in the future.
Two penalties can be given if the retailer sells tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, or nicotine products to an individual younger than 21.
