A drug dealer who sold methadone to a Monroe teen likely will spend seven years in prison because the younger man took an overdose and died.
Raoul Mahon Keith, 38, pleaded guilty Thursday in Snohomish County Superior Court to the rarely used charge of “controlled substance homicide.”
What the charge means simply is that Keith sold the drug to Shane Jesmer, 19. Jesmer took too much of the drug, went to sleep and never woke up.
Deputy prosecutor Janice Albert said it’s possible for any drug dealer to face this charge – although it’s seldome used – if it can be proved that a buyer took too much of an illegal drug and died because of it.
Keith will be sentenced Nov. 22.
Public defender Natalie Tarantino and Albert worked out a plea bargain. Seven years is the middle of the sentencing range for the crime.
Keith was arrested in October by a fugitive task force. Jesmer died Nov. 1, 2004.
According to charging papers Jesmer and some friends drove to Everett and bought methadone from Keith. It is a prescription drug often given to addicts to help them kick heroin.
Methadone also is a painkiller, and Jesmer reportedly bought the drug for the pain of a broken collarbone, Albert said.
According to charging papers, Jesmer consumed most of a small bottle of methadone Oct. 31 and went to sleep. He wasn’t breathing when companions woke up, and aid personnel couldn’t revive him.
Detectives later obtained a court-authorized recording of a conversation with Keith in which his role in the sale was discussed.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s office ruled that Jesmer died of an overdose of methadone and diazepam, a drug used to relieve anxiety, muscle spasms and seizures, documents said.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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