Key witness in drug death case sentenced for heroin possession.

Jeremy Bonneau with defense attorney Becky Lederer

Key witness in drug death case sentenced for heroin possession.

#MasonCountyCrime

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

LUDINGTON – A 45-year-old Ludington man was sentenced in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, June 4, to serve six months up front of one-year discretionary jail term for a conviction of heroin possession less than 25 grams.

Martinez

Jeremy Jason Bonneau, of 610 N. James St., will serve as a key witness in the cases against Michael Thomas Martinez, 34, of 4513 North Benson Road, Sheridan Township, and Neta Margett Sohn, 33, of the same address. The pair are charged with five count felony counts arising out of the death of Katie Lynn Fulton, 35, of Ludington. Fulton died as a result of an accidental overdose of heroin and fentanyl last November in the City of Ludington.

“I lost a friend and lover to drug abuse,” Bonneau said. “She died in my bed. It’s hard to get that image or her dead, lifeless body out of my mind.”

“We are not sentencing him for anything related to

Sohn

the death,” said Judge Susan K. Sniegowski, who also ordered two years probation.

Bonneau requested that he be released to a residential substance abuse treatment, and Judge Sniegowski allowed it if there is a bed available.

Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola described Bonneau as having a “long history of drug use and abuse.”

Defense attorney Becky Lederer said Bonneau is a “a person with serious drug problem as evidence throughout his PSI (pre-sentence investigation report.) “He has expressed a desire to maintain sobriety and to be released into an inpatient treatment program.”

Sentencing guidelines in the case are 0-17 months.

As part of his sentence, Bonneau’s driver’s license is suspended for six months with a restricted license after 30 days.

He received 88 days jail credit.

Both Martinez and Sohn are scheduled for a preliminary exam in 79th District Court, July 10, Spaniola said. They face up to life in prison.

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