By Eileen Persike

Editor

Two people were charged in Oneida County Court today in connection with the April overdose death of a 29-year old Oneida County man. Malik I. Jones, 23, of Green Bay and Jasmine M. Lariviere, 24, of St. Germain are charged with being party to the crime of first degree reckless homicide by delivering drugs.

“We were waiting for the autopsy report to come back, it has now come back, I did talk with the forensic pathologist Thursday, indicating the cause of death was fentanyl toxicity,” Oneida County District Attorney Michael Schiek said in court. “It’s is alleged that Mr. Jones and a co-defendant, Ms. Lariviere … delivered a substance that eventually led to [the victim’s] overdose.”

The victim died April 18, 2022, at his home. Schiek told Judge Mary Roth Burns he believes his office has a strong case.

“We have corroboration with interviews with Mr. Jones as well as the co-defendant, there were some admissions, we also have the test results back from the substance that was located next to the victim and as well as some technology information that addresses placement of the two co-defendants with their phones in close proximity of his house,” Schiek said.

Bail for Jones was set at $10,000 and $5,000 for Lariviere. Both defendants appear in court again Wednesday.

First degree reckless homicide, a Class C felony, is punishable by up to 60 years in prison.