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SALT LAKE CITY — A Park City woman who was facing misdemeanor drug charges now faces a felony charge accusing her of trying to bribe UHP troopers.
On Jan. 27, Christina Nicole Vanatta, 30, was driving her Jeep on I-80 when she veered out of her lane, "struck the median and then struck a semi-truck," according to charging documents. Utah Highway Patrol troopers responding to the scene noted she had glassy and bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and "swayed while standing," the charges state.
Troopers took her to the UHP office for a blood test, but along the way she offered the trooper $1,000 if he would not take her to jail or charge her, according to the charges. In the trooper's booking affidavit, he noted that after arriving at the UHP office, she again "offered to show me and a female trooper her breasts" if they let her go.
A toxicology test on Vanatta's blood tested positive for cocaine and THC, while methamphetamine, LSD, marijuana, heroin, syringes and an empty beer can were found in her Jeep, according to the charging documents.
Vanatta was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with soliciting a bribe, a third-degree felony; three counts of drug possession, a class A misdemeanor; DUI, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, all class B misdemeanors; having an open container in her vehicle, a class C misdemeanor and a traffic infraction.
