Man Sentenced in Connection with Fatal Drug Overdose in Riverdale

Published on July 26, 2021

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker, and Borough of Riverdale Police Chief Kevin Smith announce the sentencing of Quamaine T. King, 32 years old, of Paterson, New Jersey. The sentence stems from a fatal drug overdose that occurred in Riverdale, New Jersey on January 10, 2021.

On June 10, 2021, King entered a guilty plea to one count of first degree Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death in violation of N.J.S. 2C:35-9 before the Honorable David H. Ironson, J.S.C. This statute provides that any person who manufactures, distributes or dispenses any number of controlled dangerous substances is strictly liable for a death that results from the injection, inhalation, or ingestion of that substance. 

On January 10, 2021, law enforcement responded to a 9-1-1 report of an unresponsive male in the bathroom of Target in Riverdale. The male victim, later identified as M.R., age 23, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office certified the cause of M.R.’s death as fentanyl and heroin intoxication. Based on subsequent investigation, King was charged with distributing heroin and fentanyl to M.R. on January 10, 2021 in Paterson, NJ, and that M.R.’s death was caused by ingestion of these substances.

King was sentenced by Judge David H. Ironson on Thursday, July 26, 2021, to seven (7) years New Jersey State Prison, subject to the eighty-five (85) percent parole ineligibility requirements of the No Early Release Act. 

Prosecutor Carroll acknowledges members of the Borough of Riverdale Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Special Enforcement Unit and Major Crimes Unit, who contributed to the successful prosecution of this matter.

Prosecutor Carroll specifically commends Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Chris Schellhorn and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brad Seabury, in addition to Assistant Prosecutor Tara Wang, Captain Jan Monrad, Lieutenant Michael Gomez, and Detective Jason Gould.

Acting Prosecutor Carroll said, “Each day we are losing entirely too many members of our community to drug overdoses, and drug-related deaths have only increased due to the multi-faceted challenges posed by COVID-19. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Morris County Chiefs of Police Association members are resolute in our commitment to investigating and enforcing applicable state law, which calls for prosecuting distributors, whose sales lead to drug-related deaths, as first-degree offenders. We will investigate each and every overdose death and target the dealer of these deadly poisons. Distributors who prey upon the addicted will be held responsible - for both their drug distribution offense AND the unacceptable loss of life that all too often results.” 

“It is essential that the community is aware of the law and support our resolve to enforce it in order to protect the citizens of Morris County. Let this be a warning to drug dealers that they are taking an enormous risk with every fold of heroin/fentanyl they distribute.”

Inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to Public Information Officer Meghan Knab at [email protected] or 973-829-8159.   

 

 

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