Experienced Dealing Causing Death Attorney in West Lafayette, IN
Drug-related offenses are prosecuted harshly, especially felonies, and especially offenses that result in the death of another person. A dealer or manufacturer of a drug that causes death can be held criminally responsible for that death. If you are facing these charges, you need a West Lafayette dealing causing death lawyer to aggressively advocate for your rights and interests. These charges can affect your entire future. A lawyer can help you protect yourself.
About Our Criminal Defense and West Lafayette Drug Crime Lawyer Team
The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley P.C. can offer compassionate support and aggressive defense during this stressful case. Our five Board Certified Criminal Trial Specialists, dedicated criminal defense attorneys, and seasoned paralegals offer over 100 years of legal experience for your case.* Our team also includes a former prosecutor who has experience on major felony and homicide cases.
Our team knows the importance of a comprehensive defense for such serious charges. This is why we brainstorm cases together, and each case is handled by a team with at least two attorneys and one paralegal. We offer responsive legal support and have an attorney on call 24/7 to give you legal representation whenever you need it. Our firm also has the resources to handle high-capacity evidence cases and massive discovery.
Being charged with causing a death from dealing in drugs can be incredibly overwhelming and leave you uncertain what to do next. Our team can help you through each step of the process.
*Andrew Baldwin, Kathie Perry, Maxwell Wiley, Kelly Pyle, and Michael C. Cunningham are Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialists, as certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Find out why having a Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialist as your defense lawyer is important here.
Dealing Causing Death Offenses in West Lafayette
In West Lafayette, this offense is called dealing in controlled substances resulting in death. It applies whenever someone intentionally or knowingly deals in or manufactures controlled substances illegally, and the use of that controlled substance causes the death of the user. It is a felony offense with varying levels of severity:
- Level 3 felony: This offense is charged when the substance in the offense is a Schedule V substance, a synthetic drug, a controlled substance analog, or something represented as a controlled substance.
- Level 2 felony: This is charged when the substance that causes death is a Schedule IV controlled substance.
- Level 1 felony: This offense is charged when death is caused by a controlled substance or analog of a controlled substance that is cocaine, a narcotic drug, methamphetamine, or another Schedule I, II, or III substance.
In Tippecanoe County in 2025, there were 1,978 drug arrests and two arrests for homicide or murder offenses, according to the Indiana Management Performance Hub. The state’s Department of Health reported 15 deaths from drug overdoses the same year.
Penalties for Dealing Causing Death Offenses
There are very serious consequences for conviction of a dealing causing death offense. Immediate criminal penalties include:
- A Level 1 felony conviction results in between 20 and 40 years of imprisonment, with an advisory sentence of 30 years, and a fine of up to $10,000.
- A Level 2 felony conviction leads to between 10 and 30 years of imprisonment and an advisory sentence of 17 ½ years. There is also a fine up to $10,000.
- A Level 3 felony conviction results in between three and 16 years of imprisonment, and an advisory sentence of nine years. There is also an up to $10,000 fine.
In addition, you could face probation restrictions at the end of your sentence. Conviction also results in a criminal record. This criminal record, along with the long-term results of a prison sentence and significant fine, can have many collateral consequences on your financial wealth, employment, housing, professional licensing, ability to secure loans, and much more.
The most effective way to avoid these penalties is to avoid conviction. An drug crime attorney could help you prevent or minimize the consequences of this offense.
FAQs
What Is the Offense of Dealing Causing Death in Indiana?
The offense of dealing causing death in Indiana is the offense of purposefully or knowingly manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance when the use of that substance causes the death of another person. When it applies to specific controlled substances like cocaine, narcotic drugs, methamphetamines, and other Schedule I, II, or III substances, the offense is a Level 1 felony. Other controlled substances that lead to death result in a Level 2 felony.
What Is the Number One Drug that Causes Death in Indiana?
The number one drug that caused death in India as of 2025 was opioids. There were 1,273 deaths from drug overdoses in Indiana in 2025, reported by the Indiana Department of Health. Seven hundred sixty-seven deaths were caused by any opioid, 760 were caused by any opioid pain relievers, and 658 were caused by synthetic opioids.
Psychostimulants caused 448 deaths, and cocaine caused 315 deaths. One hundred thirty-six deaths were caused by benzodiazepines, and 15 were caused by heroin.
What Elements Are Required in a Dealing Causing Death Charge?
For a dealing causing death charge in Indiana, it must be proven that you 1) manufactured or delivered a controlled substance, 2) did so purposefully or knowingly, 3) in violation of the state’s law, and 4) the ingestion, inhalation, or other use of the controlled substance led to the death of the person who used it. If these elements cannot be supported through evidence in court, you cannot be charged with the offense.
Is It Important to Hire a Dealing Causing Death Lawyer in West Lafayette?
Yes, it is important to hire a dealing causing death lawyer in West Lafayette if you have been charged with this serious offense. This is an incredibly serious offense, potentially resulting in decades in prison. An attorney gives you the greatest chance of minimizing or avoiding the worst penalties of the charge. They can assess your situation, the case against you, and your options for defense. They also offer needed support in this very stressful time.
West Lafayette Dealing Causing Death Attorney
When you need competent and aggressive legal representation if you have been charged with a serious homicide-related offense like dealing causing death. The skilled team at The Criminal Defense Team can give you the experienced support you need. Our five Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialists are five of the six specialists in the entire state. Reach out to us today and learn how we can help protect your future.