Paterson NJ Strict Liability Murder ChargesPolice recently arrested two Paterson New Jersey men accused of causing the drug-related death of an Allendale NJ resident.

According to law enforcement, the suspects provided the victim with a fatal dose of heroin. The victim died on January 4, 2014 inside his parents’ house.

Both suspects are 21 years old. The victim was 22 years old and had recently graduated from the University of Richmond.

The suspects were arrested and charged with strict liability homicide. The suspects were also charged with distribution of heroin.

Although it was initially believed that the suspects were on the verge of reaching a plea deal with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, things apparently changed just before the most recent court date. A Bergen County prosecutor appeared in court and told the superior court judge that the suspects were not interested in pleading guilty or accepting a plea offer of six years in state prison.

The suspects will have to make another appearance in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack to face homicide charges in March 2016.

If the suspects are ultimately convicted in the strict liability death of the victim, they could be sentenced to 10-20 years in New Jersey State Prison. That’s because N.J.S.A. 2C:35-9 classifies strict liability homicide as a first degree felony.

To learn more about this case, go to the NorthJersey.com article entitled “Two Paterson Men to Face Trial in Heroin Death of Allendale Man.”