MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A jail inmate who allegedly smuggled fentanyl into the Manitowoc County Jail, then provided it to another inmate who died of a drug overdose, pleaded not guilty.
Jerid Hanson, 32, faces a count of first-degree reckless homicide and three drug-related charges. He also waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday. No trial date was set.
According to the criminal complaint, Hanson was arrested last Sept. 13 on his way back from buying drugs in Milwaukee. Before he went to jail, Hanson admitted hiding some of the heroin laced with fentanyl in his body. Jail officials found a vial of heroin during a strip search and electronic scan, but Hanson said they missed another chunk of heroin/fentanyl, which was flesh-colored. Hanson admitted giving some to the victim, the criminal complaint says, “because he owed him from the streets.” The victim, 36-year-old Justin Hall, was found dead on Sept. 15.
According to the complaint, surveillance video showed Hanson pass something to the victim in a jail cell.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Hanson told investigators, adding, “I didn’t think I gave him enough to OD on.” He also told officers during questioning that he was “sorry,” according to the criminal complaint.
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