Pubdate: Tue, 30 Nov 2004
Source: Capital Times, The  (WI)
Copyright: 2004 The Capital Times
Contact:  http://www.captimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/73
Author: Mike Miller
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

PROSECUTOR DROPS CHARGE IN DRUG OVERDOSE DEATH

A homicide charge filed earlier this month against accused Sun Prairie drug 
dealer William A. Scott was quietly dropped last week at the request of the 
District Attorney's Office.

"Based on newly discovered evidence, the state moves to dismiss the case, 
without prejudice," Deputy District Attorney Jason Hanson said in a letter 
to Dane County Circuit Judge Dan Moeser.

Hanson declined to say what the new evidence was, but said it caused him to 
re-assess whether the state could prove the charge against Scott.

Because the case was dismissed without prejudice, the state can refile the 
charge if it decides it has sufficient evidence to make a case against Scott.

Scott, 25, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide in the death 
Timothy Farrell, 23, formerly of Oregon, who died of a heroin overdose on 
July 10 after being found unconscious in the bathroom of a Fitchburg apartment.

Police managed to come up with several friends of Farrell who said he 
bought heroin from a man named "Wilbo," a nickname police eventually linked 
to Scott. They also found phone records of calls between Scott and Farrell 
the night before he died from an overdose.

Scott denied that he sold heroin to Farrell or anybody else, describing 
himself to police as a "pothead."

Had the charges not been dropped, Scott could have faced up to 46 years in 
prison if he had been convicted.
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