Lincoln Park Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Induced Death

Published on August 09, 2013

Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that Matthew Weisholz, 28 years old of Lincoln Park, pled guilty in connection with the death of Erin Idone, 29 years old of Montville Township. Defendant pled guilty to an Accusation charging him with First Degree Strict Liability Drug Induced Death as well as a Third Degree drug charge in addition to the homicide.

Ms. Idone was discovered unresponsive in her home on the morning of March 6, 2013. An investigation led by the Montville Township Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit ensued. It was determined that the victim had ingested heroin the night before (March 5, 2013). The defendant, who had dated Ms. Idone in the past, was aware she had recently returned from an out of state rehabilitation facility. Defendant agreed to meet the victim and bring her heroin. The defendant agreed to meet Ms. Idone in Montville Township, where he provided her with heroin, as well as a needle, which she then used to ingest the heroin in his presence. Ms. Idone returned to her home and went to bed, where she was discovered unresponsive early the next morning. The Morris County Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy and certified the cause of Ms. Idone's death to be Heroin Intoxication.

The defendant was charged on March 6, 2013 with one (1) count of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, and one (1) count of Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (heroin). Officers conducted a search of the defendant's home and found a quantity of heroin that had a stamp matching the stamp on the fold of heroin in Ms. Idone's possession. As a result of the findings of the search, the defendant was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute as well as an additional count of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.

On March 7, 2013, the defendant posted the $75,000 cash bail set by the Honorable Mary Gibbons Whipple, J.S.C.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, the State will recommend that the defendant be sentenced to 5 years in State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act on his guilty plea to First Degree Drug Induced Death. The State will also recommend a concurrent 5 years in State Prison on his guilty plea to the Third Degree drug charge.

The victim's family has relocated from New Jersey but was fully informed of the plea agreement beforehand. Acting Prosecutor Knapp stated, This young woman's death is the type of tragedy we are trying to avert by heightened narcotics enforcement. Unfortunately, the flow of heroin into our County continues, however, it is a priority of this administration to hopefully stem the tide and prevent such senseless deaths in the future.

Assistant Prosecutor/SDAG Julie Serfess represented the State in this matter.

The Honorable Stuart A. Minkowitz accepted the defendant's guilty pleas, and revoked his bail. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the Morris County Correctional Facility pending his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for September 27, 2013.

Acting Prosecutor Knapp thanks Police Chief Richard Cook and the Montville Township Police Department, Police Chief Mark West and the Lincoln Park Police Department, The Morris County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigative Section, and the Morris County Sheriff's Office Emergency Services Unit K-9 who assisted in the investigation and resolution of this matter which was led by the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit.

Any inquiries can be directed to Assistant Prosecutor/SDAG Julie Serfess at 973-829-8404 or jserfess@co.morris.nj.us or Captain/SSI Denise Arseneault at 973-285-6262 or darseneault@co.morris.nj.us.