Pubdate: Wed, 29 Aug 2001
Source: Bluefield Daily Telegraph (WV)
Copyright: 2001 Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Contact:  http://www.bdtonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1483
Author: Charles Owens

RICHLANDS MAN GETS 13 YEARS IN OXYCONTIN OVERDOSE

TAZEWELL, Va. - A Richlands man who pleaded guilty last month to felony 
homicide in connection with a fatal OxyContin overdose was sentenced 
Tuesday by Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Donald Mullins to 13 years 
and six months in prison. Robert Maurice Stallard, 43, of 100 Oxford Square 
Apartments No. 58 in Richlands, was arrested last year after being indicted 
by the county's grand jury on charges that he supplied the drugs that 
killed Nicholas Keith Dickerson, 40, of No. 66, Oxford Square Apartments, 
and then dumped the man's body. Stallard was charged with felony homicide, 
distribution of oxycodone, a schedule II controlled substance, and 
disposing of a dead body.

The charges came as a result of the investigation into the death of 
Dickerson, according to Commonwealth Attorney Dennis Lee. Stallard entered 
the guilty plea last month just minutes before he was scheduled to stand 
trial on the charges in Circuit Court.

Mullins sentenced Stallard to 15 years in prison on the felony homicide 
charge, but then suspended five years of that sentence. Stallard also was 
sentenced to five years in prison for the distribution of a schedule II 
controlled substance, but Mullins also suspended two years of that 
sentence. Mullins also sentenced Stallard to six months in prison on the 
charge of disposing of a dead body.

As a result of the suspended sentence, Stallard will spend 13 years and six 
months in prison.

"I certainly would like to have seen a harsher sentence, but it does appear 
to be in line with what has happened in other jurisdictions," Lee said.

Stallard is alleged to have supplied Dickerson with a lethal amount of 
oxycodone, and is alleged to have assisted Dickerson in administering the 
drug. Lee said the drug was taken intravenously. The two were neighbors, 
and apparent acquaintances.

Authorities found Dickerson's body on the grounds of the apartment complex 
on Sept. 4., 2000. The state medical examiner's office in Roanoke 
determined the cause of death was an overdose of oxycodone.

The earlier proceedings in Circuit Court were filmed by a television crew 
from the cable network HBO. The network is filming a documentary on the 
abuse of the prescription painkiller in Southwest Virginia and southern 
West Virginia, which is expected to be aired later this year. Lee said the 
investigation is believed to be Virginia's first murder case related to an 
OxyContin overdose.
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