On November 22, 2017, after a two day trial in the Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court, the presiding Judge found Nathan Joseph Johnson, age 25 of Arnold, Maryland, guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter, Reckless Endangerment, and two counts of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Narcotics (heroin).  The convictions stemmed from the heroin/fentanyl overdose death of Brandon Thomas Roe on November 4, 2016.  Mr. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2018.

Mr. Roe’s death was investigated through joint efforts by the Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff, Queen Anne’s County Drug Task Force and the State’s Attorney’s Office.  The investigation revealed that Mr. Johnson traveled from the Annapolis, Maryland area to Mr. Roe’s home in Grasonville on the night of November 3, 2016 to sell Mr. Roe heroin. After meeting with Johnson, Roe was found unresponsive by a family member shortly after midnight on November 4th and medical personnel were summoned to the scene.  Despite life-saving efforts made by family members and first responders, Mr. Roe was pronounced dead at 1:00 am.  An autopsy confirmed the death to be an overdose of heroin and fentanyl.

The case was prosecuted by Christine Dulla Rickard, Deputy State’s Attorney, and Jennifer Doud, Assistant State’s Attorney.