Man Indicted In Heroin Sale In Howell Man's Death: Prosecutor

HOWELL, NJ — A Trenton man has been indicted on a charge of strict liability for a drug-induced death in connection with the overdose death of a Howell Township man in May 2017, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said Tuesday.

John R. Varra, 50, of Trenton, is accused of selling the heroin that directly led to the overdose death of a 31-year-old Howell resident on May 3, 2017, Gramiccioni said.

Howell police received a 911 call about 12:25 a.m. on May 3, 2017, from a woman reporting her husband was unresponsive. The responding police officers found the man in his bedroom and tried to revive him, but lifesaving efforts, including the administration of naloxone, were unsuccessful, the prosecutor's office said. The man was pronounced dead at 1:07 a.m., the prosecutor's office said.

Howell detectives aggressively investigated the incident, seeking to determine who had distributed the heroin to the man and after learning Varra may have been responsible, continued to investigate the incident. Howell police located Varra in the township that day, and arrested him, the prosecutor's office said. A quantity of heroin was then lawfully seized from his vehicle, Gramiccioni said. The autopsy by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office indicated the cause of the man's death was "acute heroin toxicity."

Gramiccioni praised the dedication of the officers assigned to Howell’s Crime Suppression Unit and Investigations Division, under the direction of Chief Andrew Kudrick Jr.

"We all realize that the opioid epidemic is a monumental challenge within our communities," Gramiccioni said. "Many thanks to the Howell Township Police Department for vigorously investigating this overdose death, leading to the identification of the dealer and an indictment in connection with this tragic death."

“The probable cause required to charge someone with this strict liability offense has a very high standard to meet," Kudrick said. "This first-degree charge is equivalent to homicide. These types of cases are rare and complex and require a great deal of effort by officers and prosecutors. I am proud of the work put forth by my officers and thank the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office for their continued partnership in battling this opioid epidemic."

Varra was indicted on a charge of first-degree strict liability for drug-induced deaths and third-degree distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, in connection with the sale of heroin on May 1, 2017 that led to the overdose. Varra additionally was indicted on third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance and third-degree of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute in connection with his arrest on May 3, 2017, the prosecutor's office said.

The strict liability charge carries a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years, and the third-degree charges carry 5 to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher J. Decker, Director of the Office’s Major Crimes Bureau. Varra is represented by Joshua Hood, Esq. of Freehold.

Image via Shutterstock