District Attorney To Charge Alleged Heroin Dealer For Overdose Death
EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - A deadly batch of heroin is spreading around the mountains communities, and one elected official is trying to put a stop to the overdoses.
The exact number of deaths caused by the heroin isn't clear, but 5th Judicial District Attorney Bruce Brown said it's a string, and so to try and stop more deaths, he pressed homicide charges on the drug dealer.
Avon police responded to an overdose death on Feb. 13. A dangerous form of morphine-based heroin killed Matt Williamson.
"This is a situation where it appears somebody distributed heroin to Mr. Williamson, he died as a result of that direct distribution. There's no reason why we shouldn't hold the distributor liable for his death," Brown said.
After searching Facebook and cellphone records, investigators traced the heroin deal back to Kaile Wilson, 24. She's been charged with distributing a controlled substance, reckless death, and criminally negligent homicide. It's a rare set of charges for a drug dealer.
"What caught my attention was the fact that although I'm new on the job, I was hearing with a ridiculous frequency that there had been overdoses of heroin. So I viewed it as something we can act upon," Brown said.
Brown took over the 5th Judicial District, which covers four high country counties along the Interstate 70 corridor, two months ago. He says in this case, the drug is just like a weapon.
"You don't intend the outcome, but you engage in such dangerous, lethal behavior that the law holds you responsible for the outcome," Brown said. "Although we don't see these types of prosecutions frequently, they certainly come within the wheelhouse of what we do every single day."
Wilson will be in court a week next Tuesday for arraignment. She's already bonded out of the Eagle County Jail.
