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Island Lake man pleads not guilty in fatal drug case

An Island Lake man pleaded not guilty in Lake County court to charges he had a role in the December overdose death of a Mundelein man, authorities said Wednesday.

Joseph W. Crisara III, 28, of the 300 block Tulip Circle, faces a drug-induced homicide charge for supplying a lethal dose of heroin to 27-year-old Jason Ericksen, said Cynthia Vargas, spokeswoman for the Lake County state's attorney's office.

Crisara remains held in Lake County jail on $200,000 bail. His trial is scheduled for May 23, Vargas said.

Ericksen was found unresponsive by relatives in his bedroom Dec. 26.

A dose of naloxone was used by police officers in an effort to revive Ericksen, authorities said. But he died at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

An autopsy revealed Ericksen died of heroin intoxication, authorities said.

Crisara became a suspect in Ericksen's death during the investigation, authorities said.

Crisara was arrested Feb. 1 after Mundelein police, the McHenry County sheriff's office and U.S. marshals used a search warrant to search his home. A search of the data on Ericksen's cellphone linked Crisara to Ericksen, police said.

Crisara is due in court April 12.

Island Lake man charged in drug death

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