A mother accused of attempting to sneak fentanyl pills into a Sylmar juvenile detention facility where her son was being held entered into a plea deal Wednesday morning at the San Fernando Courthouse.
Jeny Catalina Morenoparra pled no contest to the felony charge of bringing an illegal substance into a jail facility. The charge carries a sentence of at least 16 months, after which she would be put on parole.
Her next court date is on Feb. 18.
The initial incident dates back to 2023, when Morenoparra went to Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall to visit her son. Prosecutors alleged that while she was at the facility, a supervising deputy probation officer found that she had more than 30 pills on her, which tested positive for fentanyl.
The mother was taken into custody but was released soon afterward without any charges being filed. However, District Attorney Nathan Hochman reviewed the case when he took office in late 2024, and a warrant was issued for Morenoparra’s arrest in May 2025.
In a statement, Hochman said, “Fentanyl is too dangerous a threat – 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine – to not treat its lethality with the seriousness and immediacy it requires.”
Morenoparra was arrested that July and faced three drug-related felony charges: bringing an illegal substance into a jail facility, employing a minor to sell or carry a narcotic and possession for sale of a controlled substance.
Two days after her second arrest, Monroeparra was released on bond. She was arraigned on Aug. 1, 2025, and, at the time, pled not guilty to all three charges.
A Potent Opioid
Teens who have overdosed on fentanyl oftentimes unknowingly ingest pills that have been laced with the powerful drug. Young people have purchased drugs online, like Adderall, often used for ADHD, as well as other opiates via social media to self-medicate or for recreational use. Drugs purchased online from unlicensed pharmacies are unregulated and potentially contaminated with fentanyl and can contain lethal amounts.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that, when prescribed by a doctor, is used to treat severe pain and is monitored.
Even a dose as small as two milligrams can be fatal. Due to its potency and being more addictive than other opioids, fentanyl has been mixed with other drugs – including heroin, counterfeit pills, cocaine and methamphetamine – increasing the likelihood of an overdose.
The drug also can’t be detected through smell or taste. Without the use of fentanyl test strips, it’s nearly impossible to tell if the opioid has been mixed with other drugs.
These factors have led to an increase in overdose deaths from opioids in the United States, especially among youths. According to a 2025 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, fatal overdoses among 15 to 24 year olds involving synthetic opioids rose by 168% over a five-year period from 2018 to 2022. Most of those deaths were caused by fentanyl alone.
The physical symptoms of fentanyl misuse include slow and ineffective breathing, slurred speech, unusual and erratic behavior, lethargy and discolored skin. If you suspect your child is abusing fentanyl, it’s advised that you reach out to a school counselor, mental health professional or visit a pediatrician for a substance-use screening.
Seek help immediately if you believe someone is having an overdose, call 911 and, if available, use Narcan to reverse the opioid’s effects.