Man Faces Drug-Induced Homicide Charge In Overdose Death

KANE COUNTY, IL — An Elgin drug dealer is charged with drug-induced homicide for allegedly selling fentanyl-laced heroin to a man who died of an overdose last month. Jose R. Charles, 25, of the 600 block of Dixon Ave., is being held on a $500,000 bail at the Kane County Jail on the felony charge. Authorities say Charles sold the heroin to Trevor Brubaker, 25, of St. Charles Township in the hours before his death.

Kane County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to Brubaker’s home in the 6N100 block of Florence Lane in St Charles Township at 1:25 a.m. on April 4 for a report of a person who may have overdosed, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. Deputies found Brubaker dead inside.

Brubaker’s death was investigated as part of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office’s Anti-Heroin Initiative. The initiative seeks to curb narcotic trafficking by charging heroin traffickers in drug-related homicides.

“Through enforcement initiatives targeting those who choose to traffic drugs in our community, along with medically assisted treatment and addiction counseling in the Kane County jail, we are aggressively setting the pace for how public safety combats this deadly epidemic in our community,” said Sheriff Ron Hain.

Charles is next expected in court on May 21 at 1:30 p.m.