Drug Dealing Resulting in Death

 by Court Services

The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1359 on drug dealing resulting in death authored by Rep. Steuerwald.  The bill creates a new crime for knowingly or intentionally manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance in violation of Indiana law that, when used, injected, inhaled, absorbed, or ingested results in the death of a human being with penalties ranging from Level 1 to Level 3 felony depending on the type of controlled substance involved.  The bill provides specific circumstances that cannot be used as a defense for this crime.  It also adds this crime to the list of serious violent offenses, racketeering activity, and offenses related to the seizure of property related to this activity and includes a conviction for this new crime to the list of offenses that result in revocation of a teacher’s license.

The bill was amended regarding level of penalties and to further clarify the situations covered by this offense. The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, Indiana State Police, Indiana Attorney General’s Office, and Indiana Sheriffs’ Association testified in support of the bill.  The Indiana Public Defender Council testified in opposition. The bill passed as amended 11-1.

Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/bills/house/1359

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