A second Zanesville man pleaded guilty in Common Pleas Court Monday to charges related to a mass overdose earlier this year.
24-year-old Chad Kennedy pleaded guilty to one second-degree felony count of corrupting another with drugs after helping his co-defendant, 22-year-old Garland Lewis, sell dangerous narcotics to children.
In April 2022, Muskingum County Deputies and EMT’s responded to the South Zanesville area for a mass-overdose involving three juveniles and two young adults. Fortunately, all victims survived the overdose situation. Tests later confirmed that each of the five individuals had overdosed on fentanyl. Each also tested positive for cocaine.
The Muskingum County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Kennedy and Lewis reflecting five counts of corrupting another with drugs, by means of causing serious physical harm; three counts of corrupting another with drugs, by means of furnishing drugs to a child; and two counts of trafficking in drugs, fentanyl and cocaine. Both individuals pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
The Court heard last week about Lewis’ repeated sales to the 16-year-old child victim from his home at 613 Baker Street and the ultimate transaction which occurred at the Lazy River Lounge on SR 555.
Lewis faces up to 40 years of incarceration at his sentencing while Kennedy faces up to eight years of mandatory prison time.
