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Man sentenced for drug sale, overdose death
By David Goodwin
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A Weoka man was sentenced to 11 years in prison Tuesday for the unlawful sale of a drug that led to the overdose death of 20-year-old William Smith.
Matthew King, 18, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for one count of unlawful distribution of drugs and one year for criminally negligent homicide, according to 19th Circuit District Attorney Randall Houston. King was convicted for selling the methadone on which Smith overdosed. Methadone is a narcotic used in recovery from heroine addictions and as a prescribed drug for pain management.
“If you are stupid enough to give drugs to someone in the 19th Circuit, and they die as a result of that act,” Houston said, “we will hold you accountable for your actions.”
King was sentenced in Elmore County Circuit Court by Judge Ben Fuller.
Smith died at his home on Lake Eagle Nest Road, just off Alabama Highway 170. Smith’s mother, Annette Johnson, and sister, Kayla David, gave testimony at King’s sentencing hearing.
“This boy took William from his son,” Johnson said. “No amount of time in prison is enough time for him.”
At the time of his overdose, Smith had a newborn son named Caleb, who is now two years old. His sister gave the court an emotional statement.
“King’s family still has him and they can still touch him and talk to him, but I will never again be able to share a conversation with my brother,” David said.
David also lashed out at the narcotic that cut short her brother’s life.
“Methadone is a drug that kills,” she said. “Why are they making it legal and using it as a pain treatment or as a way to get off of drugs? This drug should be removed from society.”
