Paterson Defendants Seek Plea Deal for Allegedly Selling Heroin Which Killed Allendale NJ Man
Two Paterson NJ men have been accused of selling heroin which caused the overdose death of an Allendale NJ man. Now the suspects are reportedly trying to secure a plea deal in the case.
The two suspects were indicted in 2014 for manslaughter stemming from the heroin overdose death of the victim. According to prosecutors, the suspects sold heroin to the suspect, who then suffered a fatal overdose.
The suspects were charged under the “Strict Liability in Drug-Induced Deaths” statute, which allows prosecutors to seek enhanced penalties against anyone who sells deadly drugs on New Jersey streets.
NJ prosecutors have been reluctant to use the statute in the past; however, many prosecutors have begun to turn to the statute in the wake of a recent heroin epidemic in New Jersey.
The Paterson suspects recently made appearances in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack NJ, where the judge informed them that they only have until February 9 to arrive at a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Prosecutors previously offered the suspects a deal which called for each of them to serve 10 years in New Jersey State Prison.
The suspects are now attempting to get prosecutors to offer more favorable deals which would require each of the suspects to serve just 5 years in New Jersey State Prison.
If an agreement is not reached by February 9, the suspects will have to stand trial in the case.
To learn more about this case, read the NJ.com article entitled “Paterson Men Charged with Heroin Death of Allendale Man Seek Plea Deal, Report Says.”
