10/23/2026
**Numerous ADULTS Summoned to Court**
**CHEYENNE COUNTY PARENTS, PLEASE TALK WITH YOUR CHILDREN**
Over the last two days, I have issued several summonses to court for contributing to the delinquency of minors. These are ADULTS who provided YOUR children with MA*****NA, alcohol, and ni****ne products. Some of the children involved are as young as 9 YEARS OLD!!!
This is part of an ongoing investigation. Additional cases are pending review by the District Attorney’s Office for possible charges. Everyone charged is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Information uncovered during several search warrants indicates that NUMEROUS children are using or exposed to these substances. I am working to contact the parents whose names appeared in the information I reviewed. But please do not assume your child has not been pressured or offered something simply because their name did not come up or they tell you they aren't involved.
We all want to believe our children and trust what they tell us. Still, when you have a concern, **ask questions and look deeper**. We have found evidence that some children are ordering substances online and having packages delivered to their homes or P.O. boxes. Please be vigilant: check packages, talk with your child, and stay involved in their online lives.
Children are also sharing these substances with other children. Know their friend circle. If you are concerned, look beyond regular text messages. Check the apps they use to communicate, including SNAPCHAT; review messages, CHECK EMAIL, and web history. We are reviewing ways to STOP websites that allow this behavior and will follow up; however, new websites can pop up daily.
**Protecting your child is your responsibility.** We have zero tolerance for adults who put children in danger by providing ma*****na, alcohol, or ni****ne. Parents play an important role in protecting their children, and our office is here to help. We will investigate and take appropriate action, but prevention starts at home.
These substances can affect a child’s developing brain, health, judgment, learning, and well-being. A 2026 study published in JAMA Health Forum followed more than 463,000 adolescents and found that cannabis use during adolescence was associated with higher rates of diagnosed psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety by young adulthood. The strongest associations were for psychotic and bipolar disorders. Cannabis use is also linked with psychosis and schizophrenia, and the association is stronger among people who begin using earlier and use more frequently.
Ni****ne can harm developing brain functions involved in attention, learning, mood, and impulse control, and it can be addictive. Alcohol use during adolescence is associated with problems involving memory, learning, school performance, and mental health.
Please have these conversations with your children today. If you have information about adults providing ma*****na, alcohol, or ni****ne to children, contact law enforcement. If you have questions, please come by and talk.
Undersheriff Kayla Murdock
