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David Pezak, formerly of Saddle Brook, was charged with first-degree strict liability for drug-induced death, conspiracy to distribute, distribution of a controlled substance, and other drug offenses, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said in a joint release on Monday, March 27.
The charges stem from the fatal overdose of a woman identified as A.C. on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021.
A.C. was found unresponsive at the home and pronounced dead at the scene. Her cause of death was ruled as intoxication from Fentanyl, Amphetamine, Carisoprodol and Clonazepam, Carroll said.
Investigators say Pezak “conspired with an unnamed individual to distribute narcotics to A.C. on November 15, 2021 in Paterson,” and that her death was a result of the ingestion of the substances.
Pezak was being detained at the Morris County Correctional Facility.
Assisting agencies include the Pequannock Township Police Department, the Saddle Brook Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit.
“Each day we are losing entirely too many members of our community to drug overdoses,” said Prosecutor Carroll. “Together with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and Chiefs of Police Association, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office are committed to investigating and enforcing applicable state law, which calls for prosecuting distributors whose sales lead to drug-related deaths, as first-degree offenders...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 and beyond.”
Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office at 973-285-6200.
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