Drug deal earns man prison term

Local News

Discussion

June 23, 2009

BY BRIAN L. HUCHEL The Commercial-News Tue Jun 23, 2009, 11:59 PM CDT

DANVILLE — A Hoopeston man accused of selling drugs to another person must serve time in prison after his buyer died.

Thomas Dalton, 22, initially was taken into custody on a charge of drug-induced homicide and delivery of a controlled substance in connection with the June 13, 2007, death of John Morgenroth of Hoopeston. The homicide charge was later dropped to await information in the investigation and never refiled in the case.

Instead, Dalton pleaded guilty on May 4 to a lesser charge of delivery of a controlled substance. The felony count was reduced from a Class 1 to a Class 2 charge.

Appearing in court Tuesday, Dalton was sentenced by Judge Craig DeArmond to five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections on the drug charge. The sentence is the maximum Dalton could have received under the terms of the plea agreement reached with prosecutors.

Dalton received credit for 120 days he served in the Public Safety Building jail prior to his sentencing.

Morgenroth’s mother testified at the hearing as part of the morning court proceedings, becoming emotional as she spoke to the court.

Hoopeston police testified that Dalton, after first denying accusations, admitted he sold a number of tablets of morphine to Morgenroth on June 12, 2007. Witnesses saw Morgenroth take the tablets.

Morgenroth, 18, was found dead at the Morgenroth home in the 300 block of East Washington Street the morning of June 13, 2007. Toxicology tests from Morgenroth showed he had more than a gram of morphine in his system at the time of his death.

Tests also showed traces of Xanax and anxiety drugs such as valium in his system.

Without a plea agreement, Dalton faced a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison for the crime.

Text Only

Local News

Spirit of the West
Museum workers run out of adjectives when describing the “Spirit of the West” quilt exhibit, which opens Friday. “It’s mind boggling,” Sue Richer, director of the Vermilion County Museum, said as she admired the quilts. “It amazes me. They’re works of art, the way they’re put together.”

May 29, 2012 1 Photo
County looks at power deal
Vermilion County Board committee members will discuss a contract letting Integrys extend electric savings to residents now.

May 29, 2012
Six to retire from Danville High
Six longtime District 118 employees said goodbye to Danville High School at the end of the school year.

May 29, 2012 1 Photo
Teacher’s aide retires after 33 years
Jan Kovacic meets the students at Covington Elementary School when they arrive in the morning, and she is the last one they see in the afternoon when getting on a bus or in a car.

May 29, 2012
Fountain OKs nurse position
Fountain County Council members approved restructuring changes Tuesday in the Fountain-Warren Health Department.

May 29, 2012
United Way close to goal
The United Way of Danville Area is in the home stretch of its annual campaign and wants residents’ help in reaching that goal.

May 29, 2012
City rummage sale nears
May 29, 2012
Home tour helps museum
May 29, 2012
Police, Fire Reports
May 29, 2012
Teacher weaves life skills in with lessons
KaSandra Mitchell’s fifth-graders probably think all the cooking and sewing they do in class is a lot of fun.

May 29, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Drug deal earns man prison term

Site Map

Contact Us