Man pleads guilty for role in Miami County overdose death

A former West Milton man charged in the February 2107 overdose death of a Concord Twp., Miami County, man pleaded guilty Monday to two felony charges.

Derek T. Gardner, 33, now of Sidney, pleaded to charges of attempted corrupting of another with drugs, a third-degree felony, and one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fifth-degree felony, in county Common Pleas Court.

The charges stem from the death of James Lennon, 33, which was blamed on fentanyl.

Gardner could face up to four years in prison at sentencing June 11. His bail of $55,000 was continued Monday by Judge Christopher Gee.

As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors said they would dismiss an indictment for involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony.

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Sheriff’s deputies said they responded Feb. 24, 2017, to Lennon’s residence north of Troy and found he was not breathing. A female at the residence also overdosed but survived.

Also indicted in the death was Quincy Mattison, 28, of Dayton. His charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated trafficking in drugs are pending.

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