LA Mother Sentenced for Trying to Sneak Fentanyl into Juvenile Hall

Jeny Morenoparra pleaded no contest to bringing drugs into a detention facility

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A 42-year-old Los Angeles County mother was sentenced to 16 months in prison after she pleaded no contest to attempting to sneak fentanyl pills into the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, where her child was housed. Morenoparra was arrested in 2023 and again in 2025 for the incident, which prosecutors say endangered the lives of the juveniles in the facility.

Why it matters

The case highlights the ongoing opioid crisis and the challenges of keeping illegal and dangerous drugs out of detention facilities, where vulnerable youth are housed. Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid that has fueled a surge in overdose deaths nationwide.

The details

In 2023, Morenoparra was contacted by a supervising deputy probation officer during a visit and found to have nearly three dozen fentanyl pills. She was initially arrested but released without charges. The case was later reviewed in 2025, and prosecutors decided to file charges. Morenoparra was arrested again in July 2025 and has now been sentenced to 16 months in state prison.

  • Morenoparra was initially arrested in 2023.
  • The case was reviewed in May 2025.
  • Morenoparra was arrested again on July 11, 2025.
  • Morenoparra was sentenced on February 19, 2026.

The players

Jeny Morenoparra

A 42-year-old Los Angeles County mother who pleaded no contest to attempting to sneak fentanyl pills into the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, where her child was housed.

Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall

A juvenile detention facility located in Sylmar, California.

Nathan Hochman

The Los Angeles County District Attorney who commented on the case when Morenoparra was initially arrested in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“The defendant, a mother of one of the facility's residents, is accused of attempting to introduce fentanyl, an incredibly dangerous drug, endangering the very child she came to visit as well as potentially many of the other juveniles in the facility.”

— Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The judge will determine whether Morenoparra will be granted parole or serve the full 16-month sentence.

The takeaway

This case underscores the urgent need to address the opioid crisis and keep dangerous drugs out of juvenile detention facilities, where vulnerable youth are housed and rehabilitation should be the priority.