Lacey Man Charged With Fentanyl-Induced Death: Prosecutor

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Lacey man has been charged with strict liability for a drug-induced death following a woman’s overdose on fentanyl in November, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and Toms River police.

Jehmar Barrett, 34, has been charged with strict liability for a drug-induced death, distribution of heroin and cocaine, possession of heroin and cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Toms River police were called to a home on Alabama Avenue on Nov. 24 for an unresponsive woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, said Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Police Chief Mitchell Little in a joint statement on Friday. An investigation found that Barrett sold the woman heroin and cocaine on Nov. 23.

Barrett was charged with distribution of heroin and cocaine, possession of heroin and cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute heroin that day.

A toxicology report later confirmed the heroin sold to the woman turned out to be fentanyl, authorities said.

On April 29, Barrett was charged with strict liability drug-induced death after authorities received the lab analysis.

Barrett turned himself in to the Toms River Police Department on Friday morning. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains lodged pending a detention hearing.

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