A 66-year-old Christiansburg man has pleaded guilty to a felony fentanyl charge following a July overdose investigation, according to information from the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office and Champaign County Common Pleas Court.
Christopher Burnett pleaded guilty September 3 in Champaign County Common Pleas Court to possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony.
The case stems from a July 10 incident when deputies responded to a report of a man who was unconscious and unresponsive. Investigators found approximately one gram of suspected fentanyl along with a straw containing drug residue.
Burnett was originally indicted on four fifth-degree felony counts. The charges included possession of cocaine and three counts of possession of a fentanyl-related compound involving fentanyl, carfentanil and para-fluorofentanyl.
As part of a plea agreement, Burnett pleaded guilty to the fentanyl-related charge, while the other three counts were dismissed.
The court also addressed a previous case in which Burnett had been granted Intervention in Lieu of Conviction. Burnett admitted to violating the terms of that program, including possessing or using cocaine, fentanyl, and carfentanil.
He also admitted to failing to report contact with law enforcement on two occasions and failing to complete required programs through the West Central Justice Reinvestment Grant Program and TCN Behavioral Health.
The court terminated Burnett’s intervention program unsuccessfully and entered a finding of guilt in the earlier case.
Burnett was sentenced to three years of community control. He must first serve 26 days in the Tri-County Regional Jail before entering the West Central Community Based Correctional Facility residential program, where he is required to complete treatment and aftercare.
The court also ordered random drug testing and substance-abuse treatment. Burnett is prohibited from possessing or using illegal controlled substances, non-prescribed medications, alcohol, and other prohibited substances.
If Burnett violates community control, he could face a prison sentence of six to 12 months.
