Las Vegas – A Las Vegas mother at the center of a case that made international headlines was arrested and charged with selling drugs for the third time.
Nevada State Police arrested Kendra Long, 45, after her probation officer discovered baggies containing more than 27 grams of meth, medicines popularly known as Xanax and Valium, and equipment such as a scale.
Long was arrested on August 15, eight days after his probation compliance check, according to an arrest report acquired by 8 News Now Investigators. The probation officer said she blamed an ex-boyfriend.
“Long made statements alleging that her ex-boyfriend was a member of the cartel and sold methamphetamine and that it must have been from him when she retrieved the items from storage,” according to the findings.
When Long was detained in July 2022, she provided police a similar justification. According to police papers, the first video retrieved from the inquiry showed her son, age 9, delivering a Henderson police officer a bag containing more than 100 grams of meth discovered at Long’s home. Long disputed that the pills were hers.
“I have no idea what that is,” Long replied.
Officers were seen on body camera video soothing Long’s son and interviewing her. Long’s bond was set at $25,000, which she posted.
Prosecutors claimed Long broke a court order banning her from discussing her criminal case with her son. Two different judges issued warnings, according to court records.
Long was convicted of child abuse and narcotics offenses in July 2023, according to police records. Clark County District Court Judge Monica Trujillo suspended Long’s sentence and placed her on probation.
Three months later, Long was accused of violating his probation. She faced additional charges after an officer discovered packets of methamphetamine and cocaine in her possession. Trujillo referred Long to a drug treatment program.
An arraignment for the new drug accusations is set for September 18. Judge Erika Mendoza is slated to hold a probation revocation hearing on September 19.
“This is not a user,” Long’s ex-husband, Anthony Cruz, told 8 News Now investigators in a January interview. “This is someone that is distributing and selling.”
Cruz told 8 News Now investigators that he was granted sole custody of their baby after a difficult battle. He also referred to shortcomings in the criminal justice system after Long was given numerous opportunities.
“Once the legal system even saw that evidence and they didn’t do anything about it, it was pretty disheartening,” indicated Cruz. “Then it just kind of snowballed from there but that was the first incident where we realized even with red-handed, caught red-handed type knowledge, it doesn’t mean anything in the justice court there.”
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