Aurora man found not guilty in 2012 heroin overdose death
A 23-year-old Aurora man was found not guilty Wednesday of drug-induced homicide in the heroin overdose death of an Oregon woman at an Aurora hotel in 2012.
John R. Chappell faced six to 30 years in prison if convicted in the death of Stephanie Wood, 30, and was found not guilty even though another man charged in Wood's death testified against Chappell in exchange for boot camp instead of prison.
A Kane County jury deliberated about three hours before finding Chappell, of the 1600 block of North Marywood Avenue, not guilty, said Liam Dixon, Chappell's attorney.
Prosecutors said Chappell sold heroin to another man, Charles Q. Snyder, 28, of Marshall, Illinois, who then gave it to Wood, who died from an overdose Aug. 8, 2012, at a hotel off Farnsworth Avenue.
Under the state statute, Chappell could still be held criminally responsible for Wood's death even though he didn't directly give or sell her drugs.
"The statute, I think, is over broad and this is just a tragedy all around," said Dixon, who added his client was relieved and thankful for the verdict. "This is just not the case that the statute was meant for."
During the three-day trial presided over by Kane County Judge John Barsanti, Snyder testified against Chappell in exchange for a pledge from prosecutors to allow Snyder to plead guilty to a lesser charge of delivery of a controlled substance and receive a sentence of boot camp instead of five years prison, Dixon said.
Snyder, records show, was initially charged with drug-induced homicide, which was the same charge Chappell was acquitted of Wednesday. Snyder is next due in court Oct. 16, when prosecutors are expected to formalize the guilty plea to reduced charges.
Dixon noted that Wood also had a blood-alcohol concentration of .272, and tests showed she had morphine and the presence of heroin derivatives in her blood.
The heroin derivatives showed Wood had used heroin before and "That could have contributed to or even caused her death," Dixon said.