West Haven Mother Speaks Out Against Sentence In Fatal Overdose

WEST HAVEN, CT — A West Haven mother is speaking out against the sentence handed down to the drug dealer in connection to her son’s overdose death last year. Clarence Bell, also known as "Solo," 22, was sentenced this week by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to time served and three years of supervised release for illegally distributing Xanax that contributed to the overdose death of a 20-year-old man last May.

Bell served three days in prison after being arrested on a federal complaint on Sept. 26, 2016 and has been released on a $25,000 bond since Sept. 29, 2016. He was ordered to serve the first year of supervised release in home confinement with electronic monitoring, the U.S. States Attorney’s Office announced in a press release earlier this week.

Joy Meyerholz says she found her son Anthony Joseph “A.J.” Meizies dead on May 24, 2016 and is “just devastated” by the sentence Bell received.

“Clarence was AJ's friend since childhood and I am just devastated that the only punishment was this,” she said. “As Anthony's mom I am the only voice left for him. This sentence is not a deterrent to all the drug dealers that are reading this news, in fact, it's a go ahead and continue what you’re doing.

“My son was precious to me, he was loyal and strong, a baseball player for West Haven Little League and a popular pitcher, basketball player for many years. He was also addicted to drugs for a few years of his very short life. He was very loved and he existed and his life was important. Laws need drastic changes, addiction is stereotyped and addicts’ lives are undervalued. Addiction does not have any guidelines to follow, nor can you classify all addicts of being unworthy to live, or having deserved death.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, Bell was found to have sold Meizies a quantity of Xanax pills at about 10 p.m. on May 23, 2016 that were used in his fatal overdose. The autopsy report stated the official cause of death as “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of heroin, alprazolam (Xanax) and cocaine," according to the states attorney’s office.

Meyerholz said that her son’s death has encouraged her to register in college and become a drug and alcohol recovery counselor.

“I could not save my son but I will do everything I can to keep his memory alive,” Meyerholz said.

Meyerholz shared the story of her son’s death with the New Haven Register last year.

“My son's life was so important and I want him to be remembered forever,” Meyerholz said.

Below is video from the interview with the New Haven Register last December, via YouTube:

Image via Shutterstock