Springville widow faces drug counts

SPRINGVILLE — The wife of a man who was initially thought to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning last month now faces several drug possession charges.

On Feb. 24 around 3:30 p.m., Springville police responded to a report of carbon monoxide poisoning at a home on 2494 S. El Dorado where they found 35-year-old Jeffery Reed Butler lying on the floor. Officers performed CPR on him until ambulances arrived, police said, but Butler was later pronounced dead at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.

When no trace of carbon monoxide poisoning was found — and the man's wife, Leslie Butler, 31, refused to let police search the home — investigators obtained a search warrant. They allegedly found heroin and cocaine, hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia. And, according to the affidavit in support of the search warrant, Leslie Butler allegedly told police at the scene she and her husband had been doing "speedballs" the night before.

The Utah County Attorney's Office filed charges March 6 against Leslie Butler including a first-degree felony for arranging to distribute a controlled substance, a second-degree felony and class A misdemeanor for possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia and a class B misdemeanor for child abuse and negligence.

If convicted, Deputy Utah County Attorney Jason Sant said, Leslie Butler could serve a maximum sentence of life in prison for the first-degree felony. He said prosecutors included a class B misdemeanor for child neglect because Leslie Butler and her husband allegedly took drugs while their 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter were in the house.

Sant said Leslie Butler is not facing any charges in connection with the death of her husband.

Leslie Butler is slated to appear in 4th District Court on April 1.

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