Man accused of providing heroin that killed former hockey coach to enter plea Friday
The man accused of giving a fatal dose of heroin to Nicholas Belanger in January is scheduled to make a plea in the Washtenaw County Trial Court Friday afternoon.
Brendan Lathrop
Courtesy of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office
Belanger, 26, was found dead in his car on the morning of Jan. 22 outside of Lathrop’s Ann Arbor apartment.
Lathrop, held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond since a violation earlier this year, was charged on April 13 for providing Belanger the heroin that caused the fatal overdose. That charge carries a maximum of life in prison.
Last month, Lathrop’s defense attorney was granted $1,500 for an expert to help interpret medical records the prosecution released in July after a ruling by Shelton.
Check back to AnnArbor.com later Friday for more on this case.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
kathryn ree
Sat, Sep 29, 2012 : 4:22 p.m.
funny that everyone seems to think they know what happened. nick had a chance to go to hospital. very sad what happened to him.. and lathrop is no drug dealer. this could have been prevented tho. many factors leading up to this
Jimmy Rustler
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.
Let me get this straight now... We have a heroin addict that OD's on some powerful stuff and we have a drug dealer that is being charged with his death? Sounds like Darwin is working overtime. did I read that Mr. Belanger worked with young hockey players too? did they not drug test him when he got the position? at least we know the kids are no longer around a addict anymore... that seems like no role model to me. what is happening to our society these days?
mike
Fri, Sep 7, 2012 : 6:41 p.m.
That Brendan kid is a wreck... I've known him for a year or more. I always thought he would end up in the clink but i thought it'd just be crack sales or a simple possesion.. He needs a serious penalty in order for him to not just fall into the same ol' game. I can guarantee if they don't keep him locked up for a substantial amount of time, he will inevitably do this again. He has no regard for anybody but himself...
raberwhitetail
Fri, Sep 7, 2012 : 6:40 p.m.
Hello Prison
SEC Fan
Fri, Sep 7, 2012 : 5:56 p.m.
what's with the bug-eyes? it's just creepy.
mike
Fri, Sep 7, 2012 : 6:44 p.m.
oh the bug eyes you ask... that's simple... smoke and shoot drugs as much as he did, then you'd understand the creepy bug eyes.... also that cauliflower ear is new.... guess he T'd off the wrong guy before he turned himself in.
Basic Bob
Fri, Sep 7, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.
This law should apply equally to the MD and pharmacist that delivered the prescription opioids he took for hockey injuries that got him hooked. It ultimately resulted in his untimely death.
harry
Fri, Sep 7, 2012 : 4:48 p.m.
Bob Probert died of a heart attack that was partially responsible from the vicoden he took legally. Should we prosecute the doctor?
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Sep 7, 2012 : 4:22 p.m.
So you're arguing that Lathrop should be qualified to proscribe medications, like a doctor? Interesting.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Sep 7, 2012 : 3:57 p.m.
"Lathrop, held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond since a violation earlier this year, was charged on April 13 for providing Belanger the heroin..... Honda, Dodge and Saturn all sold me cars that will go 100 MPH but the speed limit is only 70 max. So if i get a ticket for going 85 shouldn't the car maker pay for it?