MILLERSBURG — For being in possession of heroin on which he overdosed, a Killbuck man on Tuesday was sentenced to nine months in prison.
Derek S. McKeag Jr., 26, of 101 E. Purdy St., pleaded guilty to a single count of possession filed in Holmes County Common Pleas Court.
His plea came on the heels of a motion to suppress evidence related to the case, specifically 0.26 grams of heroin found inside a cigarette pack that was taken from McKeag by responding squad personnel and searched by a deputy.
In response to the suppression motion filed by defense attorney Jeff Kellogg, Holmes County Prosecutor Steve Knowling said the state did not need the evidence in question to support the charge. Rather, he said, blood evidence taken from McKeag at the …show more content…
Enabled by the DRC, Knowling said, savvy offenders are “just gaming the system.”
Further, Knowling said, the concept that drug abuse is a “victimless crime” is “the biggest farce.” Drug addiction and abuse, he said is a leading contributor to property and violent crimes, for which the state recognizes victims.
“It's nonsense,” he said, noting offenders like McKeag, who are prematurely bounced out of the prison system, are likely to continue to recidivate and, without jobs or other income sources, will continue to commit crimes to support their addiction.
The charge stems from a June 17 incident in which a resident of McKeag's home reportedly came home to find McKeag on the floor, unconscious, foaming at the mouth and with a needle still stuck into his arm, said Knowling.
McKeag, who regained consciousness while being tended to, told a responding deputy he had used and apparently overdosed on heroin.
Subsequent to the filing of charges, McKeag was released on bond, but was arrested after he allegedly violated the conditions of his bond by testing positive for methamphetamine use, according to court