BERKELEY – A Trenton man has admitted to giving drugs to a man which resulted in his death, officials said.
Ryan Thompson, 35, pled guilty to Manslaughter in connection with the death of a 55-year-old man in Berkeley Township. At the time of Thompson’s sentencing on May 3, the State will seek a term of seven years New Jersey State Prison – subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, which means he’ll have to serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
Police were called to a Torrey Pines Drive home for an overdose on September 29, 2023. Authorities later discovered that Thompson, along with 38-year-old Michael Wormann of Toms River and 61-year-old Tina Martinez of Trenton, were involved in the distribution of fentanyl to the victim on September 28, 2023.
Wormann was initially charged with Distribution of Fentanyl, Possession of Less than One-Half Ounce of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, and Possession of Fentanyl. He was taken into custody without incident at his home by Berkeley Township Police Officers, and released on a summons pending a future appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Martinez was initially charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. She was taken into custody without incident at her home in Trenton, transported to New Jersey State Police Headquarters in Trenton, and released on a summons pending a future appearance in Ocean County Superior Court.
Thompson was likewise charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl. He turned himself in to Berkeley Township Police Headquarters on that date, and was subsequently transported to the Ocean County Jail where he has remained since.
After receiving the toxicology analysis, officials confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the victim’s system.
As a result, Thompson, Wormann, and Martinez were all charged in connection with the victim’s death on November 14, 2023.
Thompson is presently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending his sentencing. The charges against Wormann and Martinez – who were previously released from the Ocean County Jail as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform – remain pending. The public are reminded that at this time, the charges against Wormann and Martinez are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer commended Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke who is handling the case on behalf of the State, and acknowledged the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, Berkeley Police, Berkeley Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Trenton City Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Ocean County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s Victim Witness Unit, for their combined and collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation, ultimately resulting in Thompson’s guilty plea.
The post Man Pleads Guilty Ocean County Drug Overdose Death appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
