Two Utah State Prison parolees and a West Valley woman charged with drug and weapons charges each pleaded guilty Tuesday in 2nd District Court to a single Class B misdemeanor charge in a plea negotiation.
Deborah Drane, 32, West Valley City, and Kim N. Rafel, 28, and Frank A. Brown, 28, both prison inmates, each pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia in return for having the weapons and drug charges dismissed.Drane was initially charged with two counts of possession of heroin and cocaine, both third-degree felonies, and misdemeanor charges of carrying a concealed weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Rafel and Brown were both charged with possession of a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony; possession of cocaine, a third-degree felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The three were arrested shortly after midnight on May 13 by Davis County sheriff's deputies investigating a vehicle off U.S. 89 near a South Weber convenience store.
Deputies saw firearms on the floor of the car when they approached it and a further search turned up several stolen weapons, other stolen property, and drugs, according to court records.
Rafel and Brown were both on parole at the time and were returned to prison on parole violation charges. They are still in prison awaiting the outcome of the case for a parole violation hearing, defense attorney Glen Cella said.
On pleading guilty, both Rafel and Brown asked to be sentenced immediately on the charge, which carries a jail term of up to six months, and credit for the time they have been in prison since their arrest in May.
Judge Rodney S. Page agreed, giving each of them a six-month sentence. Drane will be sentenced Dec. 6.