The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office says they are shifting their focus to drug dealers, and not just the addicts. The plan is to charge dealers with 'distribution causing death.'
Michael Bickley is the first person in Johnson County ever be charged with 'distribution causing death.'
Charges against Bickley state he gave drugs to Matthew Martinek, who later died from an overdose.
District Attorney Steve Howe says cellphone records are being used as evidence.
"Technology is great for law enforcement because everybody makes deals using their cellphones and so you see if you can use those against those individuals," said Howe.
Going after the dealers may not be the solution, according to president of First Call, Susan Whitmore,
"If we take one drug dealer away there is going to be another drug dealer, the focus really needs to be on finding treatment for people," said Whitmore.
Those who have struggled with drug addiction in the past know how hard it is stop. Megan McKamy, with First Call, used to be addicted to prescription drugs.
“It just so happens that heroin is readily available in Kansas City at the moment, and so somebody who may have been prescribed an opiate for an injury or an accident, suddenly finds themselves emotionally and physically dependent on this substance," said McKamy.
Howe says they do plan to provide resources to find help people with addictions and their family.
"We have a very effective law enforcement community as well as prosecutors and if they think they are immune to that they will just have to wait and see because our job is to take them offline," said Howe.
Howe says someone charged with 'distribution causing death' can be sentenced anywhere between 10 to 40 years in prison.
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Ali Hoxie can be reached at ali.hoxie@kshb.com
