North Texas man gets life in first Tarrant County murder trial conviction under fentanyl law
A North Texas man on Wednesday became the first person in Tarrant County to be tried and convicted of murder under Texas' new law targeting fatal fentanyl distribution.
Jacob Lindsay, 48
Tarrant County District Attorney's Office
Jacob Lindsay, 48, was sentenced to life in prison for the death of 26-year-old Brandon Harrison, who died of a fentanyl and methamphetamine overdose on Sept. 18, 2023, in Fort Worth.
Victim's father speaks out
"This sends a message to all the Jacob Lindsays out there," said Richard Harrison, the victim's father, in a news release. "If you sell fentanyl and someone dies, you are going to forfeit your right to live among us for the rest of your life."
The new Texas statute, which took effect Sept. 1, 2023, allows murder charges for individuals who supply fentanyl that results in death.
DA vows aggressive prosecution
"This conviction and sentence send a clear and powerful message," Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells said in a statement. "If you manufacture or distribute fentanyl that causes the death of another person, we will charge you with murder. We are committed to getting this poison off our streets."
Fentanyl's deadly potency explained
According to the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office, fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid that is often illegally manufactured and sold due to its strength and low cost. As little as two milligrams — the equivalent of a few grains of salt — can be deadly.
Sorrells said the conviction reflects the mission of the Narcotics Prosecution Unit, which he established in 2023 to focus on fentanyl-related and other high-impact drug offenses.
Previous case led to 19-year sentence
Although Lindsay is the first person in Tarrant County to stand trial under the new law, the first individual sentenced under it was Kaeden Farish, a 19-year-old from Azle. Farish pleaded guilty on Oct. 22, 2024, to murder after selling fentanyl-laced pills that caused the death of a 17-year-old. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
25 minutes ago
- New York Times
Adam ‘Pacman' Jones arrested, charged with assaulting officer, public intoxication
Former NFL cornerback Adam 'Pacman' Jones was arrested Saturday morning on charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct and assault of an officer. He was booked into Kenton County Jail (Ky.) at 1:51 a.m., according to public records. The Covington Police Department did not respond to a request for comment about what led to the arrest. Jones, 35, was released Saturday on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Monday. Advertisement In November, Jones was arrested in Arlington, Texas, hours after the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul boxing match on charges of assault on a peace officer, public intoxication, evading arrest and resisting arrest. He was previously arrested in 2023 near Cincinnati on charges of alcohol intoxication, disorderly conduct and terroristic threatening for unruly behavior on an outbound flight at CVG Airport. The former cornerback was a first-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2005 and played primarily for the Cincinnati Bengals during his career, which spanned from 2005 to 2018. He was out of the NFL for two of those seasons, in 2007 due to suspension and in 2009 after being released by the Dallas Cowboys, with whom he was also suspended for four games in 2008. During his playing career, Jones was arrested or questioned by police in eight separate incidents, including a 2007 shooting at a Las Vegas nightclub that paralyzed a man and cost Jones $11 million in damages. In May 2017, Jones pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor charge of obstructing police, leading the NFL to suspend him for the 2017 season opener. He retired in 2018 after playing seven games with the Denver Broncos. (Photo of Jones in 2017: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)
CBS News
28 minutes ago
- CBS News
3 injured in shooting at Irving Waffle House, police say
Three people were transported to the hospital following a shooting outside a Waffle House, the Irving Police Department said. At about 6:15 a.m. Saturday, officers were called to the location in the 2000 block of E. State Highway 356. Officers said three people were hit by gunfire in the parking lot at the business. The victims, whose names have not been released, were transported to the hospital. Police said two of the victims suffered from non-life-threatening injuries, however, the third victim sustained more serious injuries. Irving PD said officers are searching for multiple suspects who fled in a vehicle. The motive for the shooting is unknown, but police said in a news release that they do not believe there's an ongoing threat to the public. This is a developing story. We'll update as more information becomes available.
Washington Post
30 minutes ago
- Washington Post
North Dakota man accused of threatening to kill Obama, breaking into historic trading post site
BISMARCK, N.D. — A North Dakota man is accused of threatening to kill former President Barack Obama, breaking into a National Park Service historic site and threatening other people. A federal grand jury indictment filed Wednesday levies felony charges of burglary, damage to property of the U.S., terrorizing, malicious mischief, threatening to kill a former U.S. president and three counts of threatening interstate communications against Ian Patrick Stewart of Williston.
