By: Yuritza Arroyo
Ocean County authorities sentenced a man for the drug induced death of 24-year-old man that ocurred in 2019.
According to Ocean County officials, on December 2, Shemar Jackson, 22, of Galloway Township, was sentenced to seven years New Jersey State Prison as a result of his previously entered guilty plea to Strict Liability Drug Induced Death.
Officials say this sentence will be subject to the terms of the No Early Release Act, Jackson will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his prison sentence before he may be considered for parole eligibility.
Jackson pled guilty to the charge on August 22.
According to Toms River Police, on December 5, 2019, officers responded to a Toms River residence for a report of a 24-year-old unresponsive male.
Police say, once they arrived, responding officers discovered that the male was already deceased from an apparent drug overdose.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, and Toms River Township Police Department, revealed that Jackson was the supplier of heroin and fentanyl that were distributed to the victim on December 4, 2019.
Officials say, further investigation and laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of heroin and fentanyl in the victim’s system, which caused the victim’s death.
According to police, on January 23, 2020, Jackson was arrested at his residence in Galloway Township by officers of the Galloway Township Police Department and Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Jackson was initially lodged in the Ocean County Jail but subsequently released due to New Jersey Bail Reform.
He has been serving a sentence on an unrelated offense in New Jersey State Prison since November 2021.