EVANSTON — Two Evanston residents are facing felony charges for allegedly distributing a controlled substance to a minor following a hospital visit in which a 2-year-old child had a urine drug screen that was positive for opioids. Karlie T. Bradham and Miguel Echeverria have both been charged with distribution to a minor in the case involving Bradham’s child. Echeverria has also been charged with three counts of felony child abuse, while Bradham was also charged with child endangering. 

In late August, Evanston Police Department Detective Jake Williams was called to Evanston Regional Hospital regarding a case of suspected child abuse. During that visit, the child’s injuries were described as “startling and readily apparent,” including severe facial swelling and bruising. Injuries documented during that hospital visit reportedly included multiple bruises and fractures and a urine drug screen that tested presumptively positive for opioids.

The child was transferred to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, where medical records included a diagnosis of “severe child physical abuse” and a positive opioid test that “may reflect intentional poisoning to quiet or put the child to sleep,” according to court documents. The report additionally stated, “Given the extent of injuries, (the child) is fortunate to have no traumatic brain injury at this point.” 

When questioned by investigators, Bradham allegedly initially claimed the child’s injuries may have occurred at a babysitter’s; however, she later admitted she made that person up and said Echeverria had been staying at her residence and babysitting the child, according to court documents.

After allegedly claiming she had not been aware of physical abuse occurring, she later said she suspected Echeverria had been abusing the child. On the day the child was taken to the hospital, she allegedly said Echeverria had blamed the facial swelling on an allergic reaction and had tried to dissuade Bradham from taking the child to the hospital for evaluation. 

Bradham allegedly further admitted to neglecting the child due to her own heroin use and reportedly described instances in which she and Echeverria had smoked heroin in the child’s presence, as well as instances in which the child had been in contact with both paraphernalia and heroin. 

According to court documents filed in the case, when Echeverria was interviewed, he initially claimed he had not been in Evanston during the time in question; however, Facebook messages and witness statements contradicted that claim. Witnesses stated they had seen Echeverria and Bradham using heroin in the presence of the child and reportedly described instances of the child touching paraphernalia, as well as instances of the child sleeping for extensive periods of time. 

Witnesses also noticed the bruising injuries to the child’s face and neck, according to court documents.

The felony charges of distribution to a minor carry a possible sentence of 40 years of imprisonment, a $25,000 fine or both. 

The three counts of felony child abuse Echeverria is facing each carry a possible penalty of 10 years of imprisonment, a $10,000 fine or both. The child endangering charge facing Bradham carries a maximum penalty of one year, a $1,000 fine or both. 

Preliminary hearings for both Bradham and Echeverria have been held and the cases have been bound over to Third District Court. Arraignment dates have not yet been set.