By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

Christopher Aaron Susaraba

WARSAW — A man found guilty of dealing drugs to a Kosciusko County Jail inmate who overdosed and died will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Friday, July 23, in Kosciusko Circuit Court.

Christopher Aaron Susaraba, 31, 1134 BJ St., Mishawaka, was found guilty of dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a level 1 felony; and trafficking with an inmate, a level 5 felony. In Indiana, a Level 1 felony carries a 20 to 40-year prison sentence.

The advisory sentence is 30 years.

He also has a habitual offender status, which could lead to an enhanced sentence. Susaraba has two prior unrelated felony convictions for burglary and dealing methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on March 9, 2019, Kosciusko County Jail officers responded to a report of an unresponsive inmate. Officers entered a cell block to find an inmate performing CPR on Dennis McCrory, 39, Michigan. The inmate told officers McCrory was overdosing on heroin.

Officers continued CPR until medical personnel arrived, performed CPR and administered Narcan were no success. McCrory was later pronounced dead in Fort Wayne.

On March 11, 2019, a pathologist conducted an autopsy on McCrory and ruled the cause of death as acute mixed drug intoxication. A drug screen showed methamphetamine and narcotics were in McCrory’s body.

Several witnesses said Susaraba brought a large amount of heroin and methamphetamine into the jail. The witnesses said Susaraba was dealing heroin and methamphetamine to multiple inmates in exchange for money. Susaraba provided a large amount of methamphetamine and heroin to McCrory, who used the drugs, became lethargic and eventually overdosed and died.

Susaraba was found guilty by a 12-person jury on June 10.