Sentencing delayed for woman convicted in overdose death

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Associated Press

MOUNT VERNON — A Washington state woman who pleaded guilty to causing an overdose death has asked the court to withdraw her plea, claiming she had ineffective counsel.

The Skagit Valley Herald reported Wednesday that a judge has rescheduled the sentencing of Michelle Martinez, 41, to July 16 to give her time to get a new lawyer.

Martinez pleaded guilty in May to controlled substance homicide, possession with intent to deliver and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.

She was scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday.

Authorities said Martinez sold pills that contained the powerful opioid fentanyl to Ida Sylvester, 40, in May 2018.

Sylvester was found unresponsive in her home on the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community reservation the next morning.