Tyler man gets 40 years in prison for fentanyl pills found in baby diaper

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – A Tyler man is heading to prison after pleading guilty to drug charges related to an incident involving his young child.

Dre-Darian Taerondrick Ester, 28, was arrested May 5 after a traffic stop allegedly resulted in the discovery of fentanyl pills in a baby’s diaper. According to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Ester and Jada La Nae Speight, 22, of Tyler, the baby’s mother, allegedly concealed the dangerous drugs on the child during the traffic stop.

On Monday, Ester pleaded guilty in Judge Debby Gunter’s court to charges of endangering a child by criminal negligence, possession of marijuana and manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance. He received 40 years for the controlled substance charge and 20 years for the two others, which he will serve concurrently in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system.

Ester’s incarceration was scheduled to begin Monday, according to the Smith County website. He received 169 days of credit for time served.

Speight will appear in Gunter District Court on Thursday for a hearing. Her trial is scheduled for Monday, according to court records.

Related:

• Smith County deputy finds suspected fentanyl in baby’s diaper

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