Governor Dunleavy proposes tougher sentencing in controlled substance deaths

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Governor Mike Dunleavy on Monday, October 17, announced legislation targeting the fentanyl crisis in the State of Alaska.

This legislation, according to a press release from the governor’s office, says that if someone dies from ingesting a controlled substance, the person who sold them the substance could be charged with murder in the second degree.

This felony comes with a 15 to 99 year sentence.

The governor’s proposal follows an effort, begun earlier this year, to develop strategies for combating the epidemic of fentanyl and fentanyl-laced opioid abuse.

At a press conference, James Cockrell, Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Public Safety, said, “We’ve got a river of drugs coming into our state that are affecting our young adults’ lives. These drugs destroy people’s lives, our communities and our culture. Drug dealers are playing Russian Roulette with our people. We need to stop this.”

The proposal is expected to be introduced to the state legislature in the next legislative session next year.

It also includes a statute for vehicular homicide, something that, according to the press release, doesn’t currently exist in Alaska’s criminal code.

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