Evansville, IN – Richard Barnes III has pleaded guilty to dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony, after an extensive investigation connected him to the death of Zeke Biggs from a drug overdose due to fentanyl.
On March 5, 2022, deputies with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the residence of Biggs, where he was pronounced dead from a suspected drug overdose. An autopsy and toxicology results determined that the cause of death was fentanyl intoxication. Prosecutor
Moers thanks Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office Detective Juncker and Special Agent Brandt for their extensive work and investigation in this case which led to a plea of guilty by the Defendant. “Drug dealers in Vanderburgh County should be aware that they will be held responsible thanks to the Indiana law that allows us to prosecute and obtain substantial sentences for people who deal drugs resulting in death; I can assure you, dealing drugs in Vanderburgh County is not worth the price you will pay,†stated Prosecutor Moers. “I want the public to be aware that fentanyl is appearing in Vanderburgh County in everything from black market prescription pills to illicit drugs. Even an extremely small dose can be deadly.â€
Barnes agreed to a sentencing recommendation of twenty years in the Indiana Department of Correction. The sentencing hearing is set for May 8, 2023, in front of Magistrate Ryan C. Reed of the Vanderburgh Circuit Court.
