Authorities have added another charge in the case of an Anthem man accused of trading methamphetamine and heroin for sexual favors with underage girls.
Police report that Earnest Joseph Longhini III of Anthem was booked into jail in July on 24 counts that included sexual conduct with a minor, administering a narcotic drug to another, child abuse and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Longhini was arrestedafter he barricaded himself in his home.
Maricopa County authorities had received information saying a 16-year-old runaway was staying at a home with Longhini and that he was allegedly injecting her with drugs.
Detectives found evidence of drug use at the home, including needles containing fluid that tested positive for heroin.
Authorities now say that while in jail awaiting trial, Longhini, 30, made a phone call on a recorded line asking a family member to, "go to a Verizon store and have his cell phone remotely locked and wiped."
Police impounded the phone as evidence which allegedly contains proof of the crimes.
Investigators requested the account notes related to Longhini's phone from Verizon. On September 13, they received the information from Verizon that reportedly shows that the family member contacted Verizon requesting that the phone be erased since it was "lost or stolen."
Longhini is now facing an additional charge of tampering with evidence.
