Drug dealers to face murder charges for fentanyl deaths, 2 SoCal DAs say

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Prosecutors in Orange and Riverside counties are upping the stakes in the battle against fentanyl, saying drug dealers whose customers die from the opioid could be charged with murder.

The new approach to prosecution comes as fentanyl-related deaths skyrocket across the country.

"In Riverside County in 2016 there were two fentanyl-related deaths. Two. This year we're on pace to have between 500-600 fentanyl-related deaths," said Riverside County DA Mike Hestrin.

Hestrin joined Orange County DA Spitzer on Tuesday at a press conference announcing the new approach.

"I'm not going to let drug dealers get away with murder," Spitzer said.

Under the new policy, a person who is convicted of a variety of drug-related offenses will be formally advised of the dangers of controlled substances and warned that if they commit another drug-related crime and that if someone dies as a result, they can be charged with murder.

By changing the cause of death from an overdose to poisoning this gives law enforcement more leverage in charging those who manufacture and sell lethal doses of the drugs with murder.

Experts say fentanyl is becoming increasingly popular as an additive to drugs because it is cheap and highly potent in small quantities. Often it is added without the knowledge of the drug user.

RELATED: Los Angeles comedians mourned after deaths from suspected overdose on fentanyl-laced cocaine

Comics Fuquan Johnson and Enrico Colangeli, two of three people who died in suspected drug overdoses in Venice, are being remembered by fellow performers who frequented North Hollywood's Ha Ha Comedy Club.

Parents who lost a child to fentanyl spoke out at the press conference to support the DAs' new effort.

"Drug dealers, you're ruining families' lives," said parent Perla Mendoza.

"These drug dealers, these purveyors of death, are well aware of the poison they are handing to your friends, their neighbors, your children, your children's friends, your family," parent Matt Capelouto said.

In Riverside County, Hestrin says his office has filed charges in seven drug-related murder cases and three more are in the works. In Orange County, Spitzer says he's working on building similar cases.