Jeremey Ryan Smith, the man charged in connection with a fatal drug overdose that occurred in May, entered an Alford plea in Christian Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon.
Smith entered an Alford plea to second-degree manslaughter and trafficking in a controlled substance, with Judge Andrew Self clarifying that comes with a total recommended sentence of 12 years.
An Alford plea in functionally a guilty plea where the defendant maintains their innocence but acknowledges there is enough evidence that if it went to trial, it would likely end in a conviction.
Smith’s attorney requested he be released from custody pending final sentencing, but the judge denied that motion and set final sentencing for April 5.
An indictment against Jeremy Smith states he caused the May 8 death of a victim identified only as “S.G.” by distributing the controlled substance that led to the overdose.