Drug Delivery Resulting in Death

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, drug delivery resulting in death is defined as: a person commits a felony of the first degree if the person intentionally administers, dispenses, delivers, gives, prescribes, sells or distributes any controlled substance or counterfeit controlled substance in violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, and another person dies as a result of using the substance.

While medical professionals are occasionally charged with this crime when they overprescribe opiates, this crime is much more frequently charged against people who are not in the medical field but who are suspected of selling or administering drugs to others that result in an overdose and death. In some cases, a person who is addicted to drugs will share them with a friend. The friend might then overdose and die, leading to his or her friend being charged with this crime.

Delivering drugs resulting in death is a first-degree felony in Pennsylvania with severe penalties and can result in prison for up to a maximum of 40 years. It can be terrifying to be charged with drug delivery resulting in death. However, it is still possible to defend against this type of charge. Anyone who is accused of this crime should retain an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible after the charges are filed. A defense attorney can work closely with experts to defend against these types of allegations. Contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately if you have been charged with drug delivery resulting in death.