A Euclid man has admitted guilt to involuntary manslaughter and trafficking in heroin during a plea deal announced last Wednesday in Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge Forrest Burt’s courtroom.
Chas D. Johnson, 26, of 1321 E. 279th St., was originally scheduled to go to trial Dec. 22. He was facing multiple felony charges in connection with the overdose death of Russell King Sr. on Feb. 27, 2014.
King Sr. is the father of Chardon High School shooting victim Russell King Jr.
His ex-wife, Jeannie King, also the mother of King Jr., was present in the courtroom.
Johnson, who currently is serving a 21-month prison sentence on unrelated drug charges at the Lake Erie Correctional Institution, in Conneaut, admitted to supplying heroin to Claridon Township resident Chad J. Riffett, who in turn brought the drug from Cuyahoga County into Geauga County and sold it to the 48-year-old King Sr. on Feb. 26, 2014.
A family member found King Sr. dead the following morning, shortly after 5 a.m., at his Aquilla Village home — two years to the day after his son was fatally shot inside the Chardon High School cafeteria.
Geauga County Coroner Dr. Robert S. Coleman ruled the cause of King Sr.’s death was “acute intoxication by the combined effects of heroin and ethanol.”
Johnson initially was indicted on the charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony, and the drug trafficking charges, fifth-degree felonies. He later was indicted on the first-degree felony involuntary manslaughter charge. The two cases were combined for purposes of the plea agreement.
“This is the first time in our county that a heroin dealer has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter for causing an overdose death,” Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said following the Nov. 19 change of plea hearing.
He added, “This sends a message that, even if you are a heroin supplier in Cuyahoga County, if your drugs cause an overdose death here, we are going to hold you accountable.”
Johnson pleaded guilty to the two felony charges in exchange for the prosecution’s dismissal of the other three charges. The state also agreed to recommend a four-year prison term that would run concurrent with Johnson’s current prison term.
Burt deferred sentencing Johnson and ordered a pre-sentence investigation report. He also advised Johnson he faces up to 12 months in prison on the heroin trafficking charge and a fine of $2,500. He would face a mandatory driver’s license suspension of six months to five years as well.
On the involuntary manslaughter charge, Johnson could be sentenced from three to 11 years in prison and fined up to $20,000, Burt said, adding the potential prison terms could be ordered served consecutive to, or following, his current prison term.
Johnson also faces five years of mandatory supervised post-release control, or probation.
A key element of the plea deal was Johnson’s willingness to cooperate and testify against Riffett at his criminal trial, Flaiz said.
A Geauga County grand jury indicted Riffett, 37, of 12078 Taylor Wells Road, on Aug. 15 on one count of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony. He also was charged with second-degree felony corrupting another with drugs and trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony.
Riffett subsequently entered a written plea of not guilty to all charges, two of which carry mandatory prison sentences and fines. Bond was set at $75,000 cash or surety.
His case is scheduled for trial in Burt’s courtroom on Jan. 12, 2015. If convicted on all counts, Riffett faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, potential fines of up to $37,500 and a mandatory license suspension of six months to five years.
Riffett has a lengthy court record, according to common pleas and municipal court dockets. Although there are no felony convictions, Flaiz noted Riffett currently is in a diversion program in Cuyahoga County for a felony charge of having weapons under a disability.
Riffett also recently served a 60-day sentence in the Geauga County Safety Center after being convicted of disorderly conduct and physical control of a vehicle while under the influence.
While he was out on bond, Riffett tested positive for drug use and thereafter pleaded guilty to the charges, Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica previously said.