PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP, NJ (Morris County) – A former Bergen County man has been sentenced in connection with the fatal overdose death of a woman who died on Nov. 15, 2021, according to Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll.
David Pezak, 35, formerly of Saddle Brook was sentenced on Jan. 12 to 10 years New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act concurrent to 5 years with 2 years parole ineligibility for possession of CDS, Carroll said.
Pezak entered guilty pleas on Dec. 13, 2023 to first-degree strict liability for drug induced death and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, Carroll said.
On Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, police responded to a 911 call regarding an unresponsive female at a residence in Pequannock Township. The female, later identified as A.C., was pronounced dead at the scene, Carroll said.
The Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of A.C.’s death as Fentanyl, Amphetamine, Carisoprodol and Clonazepam Intoxication, Carroll said.
Based on subsequent investigation, Pezak conspired with an unnamed individual to distribute narcotics to A.C. on Nov. 15, 2021 in Paterson. A.C.’s death resulted from her ingestion of the substance she obtained through her communications with Pezak, Carroll said.
Pezak was subsequently charged with first-degree strict liability for drug-induced death; third-degree conspiracy to distribute; third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance; third-degree possession of a CDS; and possession of CDS paraphernalia, Carroll said.
The Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death statute provides that any person who manufactures, distributes or dispenses any number of controlled dangerous substances is strictly liable for a death that results from the injection, inhalation, or ingestion of that substance.
In accordance with the Criminal Justice Reform Act, Pezak was detained in the Morris County Correctional Facility during the pendency of these proceedings, Carroll said.
“The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Morris County Chiefs of Police Association members are resolute in our commitment to investigating and enforcing applicable state law, which calls for prosecuting distributors, whose sales lead to drug-related deaths, as first-degree offenders. We are losing too many lives to these deadly poisons. Let this be a warning to drug dealers – you are taking an enormous risk with every dose of heroin/fentanyl you distribute,” Carroll said.
