Many instances of death by overdose are considered to have been accidental. Police believe that one man’s death in Aug. 2014 was due to someone else injecting him with methamphetamines. One of the men involved in the death recently pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled dangerous drug and manslaughter and received a sentence of 20 years in an Oklahoma prison.
The investigation revealed that the victim was first given an injection of heroin. After he was unconscious, another man allegedly injected him with methamphetamines. Reports do not indicate why this occurred.
The other man involved in the case remains in jail awaiting trial. He is charged with distribution of a controlled and dangerous substance and manslaughter. Officials believe that he is the man who actually injected the drug into the unconscious man.
The specific details concerning the sentenced man’s involvement in the case was not reported. However, he and his counsel believed that the case against him was strong enough to enter a guilty plea to manslaughter. Under Oklahoma law, those convicted of certain specified crimes — including manslaughter in the first degree — must serve 85 percent of their sentence before being eligible for parole.
The manufacture, distribution/sale and trafficking of methamphetamines is a pervasive problem here in Oklahoma, and police sometimes rush to judgment when making arrests. Nevertheless, everyone accused of a crime is entitled to their day in court despite the nature of the charges or the evidence authorities claim to have against them. If the accused individual and criminal defense counsel agree that the risk of going to trial is too great, negotiating a plea agreement — if available — may provide a guaranteed maximum prison sentence, which may have been the case for this man.
Source: news9.com, “Cyril man pleads guilty to manslaughter in drug death”, Aug. 15, 2015
