SIDNEY – A Sidney man who is accused of selling fentanyl to a man who died of an overdose was indicted on an involuntary manslaughter charge by the Shelby County grand jury Thursday.
Ricky L. Wilkins, 51, of Sidney, was indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter, a first degree felony, illegal conveyance of a prohibited item onto the grounds of a detention facility, a third degree felony, and aggravated trafficking in drugs, a second degree felony.
Wilkins is accused of selling fentanyl to 53-year-old Jimmie L. Haynes, who died of an overdose on Feb. 25. He also is accused of knowingly conveying methamphetamine into the Shelby County Jail and preparing 15 to 150 grams of methamphetamine for distribution.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office had been conducting a drug investigation. On March 1 Deputy Frank Bleigh conducted a traffic stop on a 2006 Hyundai owned and operated by Wilkins.
K-9 Bandit was deployed and responded to the odor of drugs coming from Wilkins’ vehicle, Shelby County Sheriff Jim Frye said. With the assistance of the Sidney Police Department, a search of the vehicle was conducted, and Bleigh recovered approximately a 1 ounce bag of methamphetamine.
Wilkins was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail. During the intake process, Frye said, the Shelby County Jail staff located a bag of fentanyl/methamphetamine on Wilkins.
The Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the arrest, due to Wilkins being a person of interest in connection with the overdose death of Haynes.
Detectives from both agencies interviewed Wilkins, and during the course of the interview, Frye said, Wilkins acknowledged his involvement in drug trafficking and the overdose death of Haynes. Wilkins said he provided the drugs to Haynes, which ultimately resulted in his death, Frye said.
“I would like to thank the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office, Sidney Police Department and the Shelby County Prosecutor Tim Sell,” the sheriff said.
