Stock photo, Metro Creative Graphics

Stock photo, Metro Creative Graphics

Man receives 7-year prison sentence for controlled substance charge

Seattle Police arrested the man in Kent in 2018 after Seattle man died from a drug overdose

A King County Superior Court judge sentenced a 40-year-old man to seven years in prison for a controlled substance charge conviction, reduced from a controlled substance homicide charge after he accepted a plea deal from county prosecutors.

Kelly Dean Krstich pleaded guilty April 26 to charges in multiple cases including violation of the uniform controlled substances act. Seattle Police arrested Krstich in 2018 in Kent.

Judge Veronica Galván served as the judicial officer for Krstich’s sentencing hearing on May 5. Krstich’s term of confinement began immediately, with credit for time served in custody from a Sept. 7, 2022 booking, in the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent when bail was set at $499,000.

Seattle Police initially arrested Krstich in Kent on Dec. 4, 2018 on a homicide charge after a 33-year-old Seattle man died from an overdose on Feb. 24, 2018 after exchanging his prescribed Xanax for fentanyl with Krstich.

According to the Washington State Legislature, a “person who unlawfully delivers a controlled substance … (which) is subsequently used by the person to whom it was delivered, resulting in the death of the user, is guilty of controlled substances homicide.”

Screenshots of text messages exchanged between Krstich and the 33-year-old man demonstrated the two exchanging Xanax for fentanyl, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Prosecutors filed a felony charge of controlled substance homicide against Krstich on Dec. 9, 2019.

Krstich pleaded not guilty to the charge at his arraignment hearing on May 14, 2020.

Prior to facing a jury trial, Krstich accepted a plea deal reducing the severity of the charge to a violation of the uniform controlled substances act for the delivery of fentanyl.

The prosecuting attorney recommended a seven-year sentence for the charge at Krstich’s sentencing hearing as part of his plea deal.

As part of his plea deal, Krstich also pleaded guilty to charges from two separate cases.

He pleaded guilty to charges of residential burglary and second-degree assault in regards to a May 2018 case; and guilty to charges of third-degree assault, attempting to elude police vehicle, and possession of a stolen vehicle in regards to a May 2020 case.

Prosecutors also reduced the severity of charges from the May 2018 and May 2020 case as part of the plea agreement.

According to his plea agreement, prosecutors recommended Krstich serve the seven-year sentence concurrently with the sentences of the May 2018 and May 2020 cases, resulting in a total sentence of seven years in prison for all three cases.

Krstich will also serve a one year parole sentence following his time in confinement, as per court order.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

A red-light camera sign at Pacific Highway South and Kent Des Moines Road, one of six intersections where the city of Kent has had cameras since 2019. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, Kent Police
Kent to activate red-light cameras at another intersection

Cameras installed at 108th Avenue SE and SE 208th Street in Panther Lake

File photo.
Dept. of Commerce awards $35.4 million for solar power projects across the state

Projects across King County were awarded millions in collective funding.

Fall City branch of the King County Library System. Courtesy photo
King County Library System receives grant to develop a climate action plan

The National Endowment for the Humanities gave a $133,252 grant to help develop climate initiatives.

t
Slow, swerving driver in Kent leads to DUI arrest by police

Auburn woman, 55, eventually stopped by officers trying to enter Highway 167

File photo
King County Council members encourage people to not drive for a week

The Week Without Driving is meant to put policy makers, elected leaders and transportation professionals in the place of those who don’t have the option to drive.

t
About 135 people at Kentridge High to be evaluated for tuberculosis

Steps taken after one person at school diagnosed with active TB; exposure was March to September 2023

t
Kent house fire on East Hill displaces one person; nobody injured

Fire broke out Tuesday morning, Sept. 26 in 11300 block of SE 215th Street

t
Kent Police safely detain six people during mental health crisis calls

Officers use patience, de-escalation techniques in response to 911 incidents

t
County Councilmember Upthegrove running for state lands commissioner

Fifth Democrat to enter race; council District 5 includes parts of Kent, Renton

Most Read