A Warsaw man will serve 20 years in prison for dealing drugs to a man who overdosed and died.
Curtis Todd Click, 36, Warsaw, was charged with dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a level 1 felony.
The charge stems from the fatal overdose of Christopher L. Noble, 42, Warsaw.
Click was sentenced in Kosciusko Circuit Court on Monday.
Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Michael Reed sentenced Click to 25 years in the Indiana Department of Correction, with 20 years executed and five years suspended on probation. He has 236 days of jail time credit.
Click must also pay $4,765 in restitution for Noble's funeral expenses.
At sentencing, Noble's wife, Kristin Noble, provided a victim impact statement.
Kristin described Christopher as her "husband, soulmate and best friend," with their relationship being one of "admiration and overwhelming love." He was a United States Marine Corps veteran.
In her statement, Kristin said Christopher's loss was an "unspeakable punishment ... a very unfair reality." Almost a year later, Kristin said the couple's dog still waits for Christopher to come home.
"(Christopher's) potential on Earth, we will never know," said Kristin. "There's comfort in the memory of Chris's grin."
In a direct statement to Click, Kristin said Christopher's last phone call was to Click and asked why. She told Click she did not feel like he was remorseful for his actions and wasted prior opportunities to address his addiction. Kristin said she's looking to turn this tragedy into a story of hope by helping others in similar circumstances.
"Many people believe drug dealers have a sophisticated network set up," said Prosecutor Brad Voelz. "Curtis Click shared fentanyl with his friend ... He'll be going to prison for a long time, but Chris paid the ultimate price."
Click said he fully understood and accepted responsibility for his role in Christopher's death.
"Chris was a really good guy, a good friend of mine," said Click.
In a statement to the court, Click said he's struggled with his emotions following Christopher's passing and has prayed for Christopher's family every day since his death.
Voelz asked Click about the effects of fentanyl within the community.
"It's a horrible, very powerful drug that takes lives away," said Click. "It's the biggest and worst (drug) I've seen in years."
"The wreckage left behind with a case like this is immeasurable," said Reed. "Every drug death is unnecessary ... and the next time you use drugs can be your last."
Reed encouraged Kristin's wish to make something good from Christopher's death.
Affidavit Of Probable Cause
On June 29, 2023, a Warsaw Police officer responded to a report of an unresponsive person. Upon arrival at the scene, the officer spoke with a woman who said Christopher was unresponsive and not breathing. Christopher was later pronounced dead at the scene.
According to court documents, the officer found a syringe, drug paraphernalia and fentanyl in the basement where Christopher was found. The officer also searched Christopher's vehicle and found a folded piece of paper and dollar bill containing fentanyl.
The woman said Christopher had been acting different and Christopher told her he got pills from a customer at his place of work.
Officers then searched Christopher's phone and found a text message thread where Christopher talked about getting pills. The phone number Christopher texted returned to Click. In the messages, Click talked about selling pills to Christopher on multiple occasions. One of the conversations took place on June 28, 2023, the day before Christopher's overdose.
In an interview on June 30, 2023, Click said he wasn't constantly out trying to deal drugs and didn't make a whole lot of money from doing so.
"I should have known better, but I didn't, I knew this could happen," said Click during his interview.
Click admitted to giving pills to Christopher and knew Christopher had passed away.
An autopsy report from Aug. 18, 2023, showed Christopher had fentanyl in his system at the time of his death. Christopher's cause of death was ruled as accidental fentanyl toxicity.