Lincoln Park Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Drug Induced Death

Published on September 27, 2013

Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that the Honorable Stuart A. Minkowitz, P.J.Cr. sentenced Matthew Weisholz, 28 years old, of Lincoln Park, New Jersey to 5 years in State Prison in connection with the death of Erin Idone, 29 years old, of Montville Township on March 6, 2013.

On August 9, 2013, defendant pleaded guilty to First Degree Strict Liability Drug Induced Death and Third Degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (heroin).

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. 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.

Judge Minkowitz sentenced defendant to 5 years in State Prison. He was also sentenced to 5 years on the Possession charge to be served concurrently with the Drug Induced Death charge. He is required to serve 85 percent of his sentence under New Jersey's No Early Release Act (NERA) before becoming eligible for parole on the Strict Liability Drug Induced Death count.

Assistant Prosecutor/SDAG Julie Serfess represented the State at the sentencing.

Acting Morris County 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, the Morris County Sheriff's Office Emergency Services Unit, the Morris County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit, and the Assistant Prosecutor and Investigators from the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit for the efforts resulting in today's sentence.

Any inquiries can be directed to First Assistant Morris County Prosecutor/SDAG Thomas Zelante at 973-285-6252 or tzelante@co.morris.nj.us.