Prosecutor Rob Stratton issued a statement this afternoon on the sentencing of Brittney Knight after she provided drugs to a man that resulted in his death. Here is that statement.
Dealing drugs is NOT a victimless crime. On November I, 2020, a local man was found deceased after ingesting methamphetamine provided to him by Brittney Knight. Michigan State Police Trooper Rachel Oleson conducted the investigation which ultimately revealed that the victim had never before used methamphetamine, and the defendant not only provided him with the substance but taught him how to use it. On that first time ever ingesting the substance, the victim died.
Brittney Knight was sentenced on October 4, 2022, in the 50th Circuit court for manslaughter with Habitual 3rd Notice. During arguments, it was revealed that Knight had previously been convicted of delivering drugs 4 times in Chippewa County. Each time, she received a jail sentence, and various services including rehabilitation services. Rather than taking any of the many opportunities that the Court bestowed upon her, Knight continued to deal drugs in Chippewa County. Ultimately, she killed a man in 2020 with her actions. She took a father from his three sons and two daughters.
The prevailing sentiment in the media these days is that substance use is a disease, and it is not in the best interest of society to lock up people who engage in using or selling drugs. The reality is that controlled substances take lives. They take mothers, fathers, and children alike. The effects can not only kill, but also destroy lives from within. Unfortunately, in our community, too many families know the heartbreak of watching a loved one spiral down the road to addiction and experience the mental, physical and emotional damage to those loved ones.
“Addiction is a terrible hurdle to overcome, and it all starts with that first time a person is given a drug,” stated Prosecutor Rob L. Stratton III. “I am exceedingly proud of Trooper Oleson and her thorough investigation which led to one of Chippewa County’s prevalent drug dealers finally being removed from the community. Hopefully this will send a message to those other people in the community who are financially benefitting by selling and distributing drugs that the punishment is coming.”
Brittney Knight was sentenced to 30 years in prison and is eligible to see a parole board after 7 years. Sadly, the victim will never have a second chance. He will never again spend a holiday with his children. He will never again be there to hug or support them. Methamphetamine is a scourge upon Chippewa County. It takes lives, and the law enforcement agencies in Chippewa County and Chippewa Prosecutor’s Office are determined to do everything possible to locate and punish those who are selling it in this county.
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Tri-Dent (Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team) is the local joint drug enforcement task force combined of State Police, Sheriff Deputies and City Police. They recognize that the illicit narcotics trade in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan is an ongoing threat to the safety of its communities and citizens, stemming from local and regional sources and international sources via the shared border with Canada; law enforcement agencies within Chippewa, Mackinaw, and Luce Counties have agreed to pool their resources to form the TRI-county Drug ENforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT will work to identify illicit drug trafficking trends, individuals, and organizations to collectively and aggressively enforce the local, state, and federal drug use and trafficking laws. If you see or know of drug dealing taking place in the eastern upper peninsula, call their hotline at 906-630-0249. If you don’t step up to stop them, who will?
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“Sadly, the victim will never have a second chance. He will never again spend a holiday with his children. He will never again be there to hug or support them.”
True, but please stop editorializing while reporting. I don’t care how you want to make me feel about this. Just tell me the news.
“The prevailing sentiment in the media these days is that substance use is a disease, and it is not in the best interest of society to lock up people who engage in using or selling drugs.”
This is not news. This is an opinion. Either stop preaching to me, or cite your source showing prevailing sentiment.
Just so we’re clear, you have points I agree with. But this isn’t reporting. This is bias.
My apologies to you and our other readers. I forgot the opening line in the article. This is a statement from Mr Stratton, the Prosecutor, regarding the sentencing and the case. We did no editorializing, unless you consider the last paragraph as so. Again, I failed to proofread my article efficiently and for that I am sorry.
Mark
I whole heartily agree with your article and your “ opinion! “ . I is time to stand up to those who sell the drugs. They spend their life making addicts out of others. Selling illegal drugs is not an occupation, but the money supports the lifestyle they want.
The mess of this drug specifically waging war in our small towns is painful and disturbing. Our small town papers full of charges relating to this drug. It’s awful so many are making a living off drug money off this devil drug. How can they do this with conscience is inhuman.. you don’t turn Into a dealer over night. At that point you’ve been in and around the stuff to understand the ugly side yet your love of the money makes you continue on irregardless of the lives your helping to destroy. Disturbing, you can’t tell me it is a pay my bills get my baby food lie either. It’s the persons lazy brainless get rich scheme at the cost of other people’s lives. That is sickening..