An Egg Harbor Township man was sentenced to 11 years in prison for drug possession Friday, after a jury was unable to decide whether he was responsible for a 2016 overdose death.
Daniel Parrish's long criminal history that has included arrests while out on pending charges allowed for an extended term in the drug case.
Jurors in October could not agree whether Parrish should be found guilty of causing 27-year-old Joseph Robinson's death Dec. 10, 2016. It was Atlantic County's first trial on the strict-liability charge that holds drug dealers responsible for overdose deaths.
But Parrish testified at his trial that he did not know Robinson and is a longtime drug user who had not dealt since his release from prison in February 2016.
At his sentencing, Parrish continued to deny he provided drugs to Robinson.
"If I knew Joseph Robinson, I would have apologized," he said. "I risked my life going to trial."
If the state decides to retry that charge, Robinson said he will again fight.
Robinson's family sat in the courtroom Friday, but were unable to address the judge since Parrish was not being sentenced in the Egg Harbor Township man's death.
Assistant Prosecutor Rick McKelvey noted that earlier in the day, the family of another drug overdose victim — William Ang — was able to speak at the sentencing of the man who pleaded guilty in that case.
Khristian Morris was sentenced to five years in prison in the June 3, 2017 death of the 33-year-old Somers Point man.
Ten people who allegedly worked for a drug-ring run by an Atlantic City man charged in three drug deaths have been indicted. ... Read more
"It really breaks my heart that the (Robinson) family can't stand up here and speak of their loss the way that family did," McKelvey said.
Parrish, who was convicted on four drug possession counts, will do more time than Morris.
Parrish must serve 7½ years before he is eligible for parole. He has more than a year of jail credit.
And, if the state decides to try him on the strict liability again, he could face even more time. The state still has not indicated what it will do with the remaining counts, which include distribution charges.
