Ann Arbor man sentenced to 5-10 years in prison for supplying fatal heroin dose
Brendan Lathrop
Courtesy of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
A Washtenaw County courtroom was packed Tuesday with Nick Belanger’s family members, friends and hockey players he coached when Brendan Lathrop was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison for providing Belanger with a fatal dose of heroin.
Trial court Judge Donald Shelton didn’t veer from the sentencing agreement determined when 23-year-old Lathrop, of Ann Arbor, pleaded guilty last month to a count of delivery of a controlled substance causing death as part of a plea deal.
Nick Belanger
Courtesy of MLive
“The circumstances surrounding his death are overwhelming at times, some with anger, some with pure shock and at all times with grief,” Van Belanger said. “We’ll never hear his voice again. We’ll never (be) the family we once were.”
Van Belanger went on to say he objected to the idea his son and Lathrop were friends and that Lathrop was remorseful.
“It is our belief that Mr. Lathrop was never Nick’s friend, nor is he devastated by Nick’s death,” Van Belanger said. “We’ll never know if Nick was a willing or unwilling participant.”
On Jan. 22, 26-year-old Nick Belanger was found dead of a heroin overdose outside Lathrop’s apartment in the 2000 block of Pauline Boulevard. He was a graduate of Saline High School and had been a hockey coach at Father Gabriel Richard High School.
Lathrop eventually admitted to giving Belanger the heroin that killed him.
“I’m very sorry,” Lathrop said in court Tuesday. “He was caring. He was loving. I wish I could trade places with him. It was my fault.”
In addition to prison Shelton ordered Lathrop pay $11,931 in restitution for funeral costs.
“Our family is devastated,” Van Belanger said. “Today begins the day of justice for Nick.”
Lathrop's family declined to comment for this story.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Salinegirl
Wed, May 15, 2013 : 3:39 a.m.
I think people are really confused. Drug dealing is illegal. It does result in jail time. But what Lathrop got- he more than deserved. He didn't just sell to someone who wanted it. He ignored a dying man, and likely carelessly provided him with a extremely high dose, that as a dealer, he must have known would result in death. Heroin users and dealers are meticulous and careful, and I believe Lathrop dosed the needle and injected it for Nick (whether willingly or not.) He didn't just sell someone the poison they sought out, he either maliciously or carelessly carried out actions without regard for the life of Nicholas Belanger, a beloved son, brother, and friend. HE COULD HAVE SAVED HIM. Don't you get it? Instead they stuffed him in his car, so when he was found, it wouldn't be on them. How could anyone...I don't even know.
kathryn ree
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 1:11 a.m.
What happened with belanger is tragic, but im not only sure he was a willing participant, but also refused medical treatment that night. Lathrop does not deserve this.
lifeisgood
Fri, Oct 5, 2012 : 1:19 a.m.
If Ann Arbor is now blaming some one else for the death of a drug addict who actively sought out the drug and took it of his own free will then pretty soon they will be arresting teachers for a studentwho fails a test because he didn't study. Has Ann Arbor lost its mind?
bobslowson
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.
What a load of crap is all I can say.
Ralfie
Thu, Oct 4, 2012 : 1:35 p.m.
Justice will be served if he is forced to serve the entire 10 year term. If this guy cared he could have summoned help when he realized that Nick was in trouble. Instead he acted like a coward and ran away saving himslef and leaving Nick to die, alone. As a human being his actions are reprehensible, cowardly, and disgusting. Why will we pay to incarerate him? Because there is no eye for an eye justice. Lathrop will be out of prison one day. He will celebrate holidays, his family will get to see and hug him, he will return to society. Nick will not. Sadly my friends will not be able to hug their son again. Nick is gone forever. Senseless? Yes. Guilt free? Absolutely not. Lathrop is guilty of causing this death, period.
lifeisgood
Fri, Oct 5, 2012 : 1:30 a.m.
Why did Nick go to Lathrops apartment in the first place? Because he wanted to get the drug. Lathrop didn' beg for the drug; Nick did. Lathrop brought him back to life and Nick still refused to go get help when he was told by everyone there to get help. Nick's Dad even tried to get him to get help and he wouldn't do it. Nick is guilty of taking the drug and refusing to get help. Yes, you can feel better by blaming someone else but no one told Nick to get a fix. That is the nature of the drug addict. They must have their fix no matter what.
Renee S.
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 3:33 p.m.
Unless there was evidence that the convicted personally and forcibly administered the dose, than the coach bore most of the responsibility for his own death. The convicted is no angel, but the sentencing is unjust. I also don't suppoconvictions of
A2James
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 1:20 p.m.
5 to 10 years? Sending this guy to prison for selling someone heroin makes as much sense as charging the U.S. as a co-conspirator for indirectly supplying the heroin. It's not like this guy went to Afghanistan (which now produces around 90 percent of all opium) and grew the poppies himself...
Basic Bob
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 2:01 p.m.
Most of the opium from Afghanistan ends up in China, India, Russia, and Iran. It is a major problem in those countries. The U.S. is responsible for the heroin problem in this country by allowing pain clinics to over-prescribe synthetic opioids and allowing the health system and black market to profit from it. When an addict can't get his pills and gets sick, some turn to heroin.
Chase Ingersoll
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 12:37 p.m.
The two fellows in this article are referred to as "friends". I resent the use of the word "friend" to describe their relationship. The word 'friend" carries the connotation of caring about the others well being, mutual affection and even love. People who abuse alcohol or who feel the need to use what they know are dangerous substances, inevitably do not know how to love themselves, or how to give and receive love to others. Knowing, or at least consciously wanting to learn how to give and receive love is what stops a person from taking that next drink or hit. That the dealer would speak as to what a wonderful person the deceased was, just boggles my mind, because I know from 20 years in AA meetings that what is really going on is that we are just wonderful pretenders. We pretend or act out certain behaviors before civilized society so that we will be accepted, even while out of the site of those who would not approve we drink, use drugs and engage in all kinds of reprehensible behavior because we are actually extremely uncomfortable with the love that people are showing us and having to act in return to them in a way that we don't actually feel and an attitude that we don't understand. Accordingly, the articles on this case, reflect a huge disconnect between what the victims family says, what the convicted says and did, and what the deceased actually did.
Chase Ingersoll
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 12:21 p.m.
How does every heroin sale not fall into the category of "providing a fatal dose"? That the user happens to not use too much at once is the difference in how many years at sentencing? How do I say what I am thinking, without getting my comment moderated.....
Blue Marker
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 11:20 a.m.
There is no pain like the loss of a child. Strength to the family, your loved one is with you always.
hockeymom
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 10:26 a.m.
Don't do drugs kids. Use your heads. Don't sell them either. Nick is missed so much.
Kelli Fred
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 9:58 a.m.
Anyone who does drugs, that's always the chance they're going to take. Death! I'm sorry but it's true. I'm sorry both familes have to go thru this. Drugs & addiction is a terrible thing!
Basic Bob
Wed, Oct 3, 2012 : 9:44 a.m.
Friends don't give friends heroin.