Drug Dealing Resulting In Death Leads To Harsher Penalties

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By Quinn Fitzgerald
TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—Drug dealers could face more serious felony charges if the product they sell leads to the death of a customer.

House Bill 1359, which passed the Indiana Senate Tuesday by a 41-9 margin, calls for a Level 1 felony to be charged if the customer overdoses on cocaine, methamphetamines or a Schedule 1 drug like heroin. Most people convicted of a Level 1 felony serve nearly 30 years in prison.

Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington, questions Sen. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, on House Bill 1359. The bill would increase punishment measures for drug dealers whose drugs result in the death of customers. Photo by Quinn Fitzgerald, TheStatehouseFile.com

Proponents of the bill, which was authored by Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, argued that it will help combat the rising number of opioid deaths that are occurring in communities across Indiana.

“People are losing their lives,” said Sen. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, of why the bill should become law. “They’re dying because somebody sold them a product that took their life away from them. They affect their lives, not only theirs but their families.”

But Sen. Mark Stoops, D-Bloomington, said the law could have unintended consequences.

“This goes way beyond anything we’ve in had in the code in Indiana,” Stoops said as he tried to persuade his colleagues to vote against the bill. “It really creates this whole new set of criminals tried as Level 1 felons. This could have an impact on courts.”

FOOTNOTE: Quinn Fitzgerald is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

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