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The deal offered by prosecutors was disclosed during the arraignment in Hackensack today of 19-year-old Eric “Big D” Carter.
Carter was charged as a conspirator but is considered “peripheral” to the case, Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Danielle Grootenboer told the judge.
Charged with strict liability for the death of 22-year-old Brendan Cole — who was found dead in his bedroom last Jan. 4 — are Timothy Volpe and Kaleik Easton.
Authorities said Cole bought the fatal dose from both men the night before.
“There is a very big condition” to the plea deal offered to Carter, Grootenboer said.
“The offer is contingent on him giving truthful testimony at trial,” she said.
Grootenboer also said she was offering to not have Carter spend any time in custoday — although she conceded that a probation violation out of Passaic County could change that.
Carter also failed to appear for court in Hackensack in June, forcing a judge to sign a warrant for his arrest, she said.
He remained held on $25,000 bail in the Bergen County Jail.
Volpe and Easton, meanwhile, remained held on $575,00 bail each, charged with manslaughter and liability for a drug-induced death, along with other drug-related counts.
STORY/PHOTO: CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Correspondent Mary K. Miraglia
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