Man Gets 7 Years For Berkeley Fentanyl-Induced Manslaughter

BERKELEY, NJ — A Lacey man was sentenced to seven years in prison Friday for manslaughter. Charles Rice sold a combination of heroin and fentanyl, which killed a victim last year.

He must serve 85 percent of the sentence before parole eligibility. Rice, 58, was also sentenced to six years in prison with a three-year period of parole eligibility for distributing heroin and fentanyl. The sentences will run concurrently.

Rice pleaded guilty to both charges Dec. 9.

Berkeley police went to a home April 21 for a report of an unresponsive male. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities determined the drugs Rice sold had killed the victim, who has not been publicly identified.

"We have been very clear that we will continue to arrest and prosecute individuals that pedal illegal and sometimes deadly narcotics in Ocean County," said Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

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