Man pleads guilty in wake of fentanyl overdose

Ryan Walker pleaded guilty to negligence causing death and trafficking a controlled substance in a Barrie courtroom Friday. The 25-year-old will be sentenced Jan. 23, 2019.

Shawn Kelly Jr., 23, was found dead the morning of April 10, 2017, by his mother, Denise Lane, and his sister, Megan. He died after taking a deadly concoction of fentanyl and heroin.

Walker and a 55-year-old Innisfil man were initially charged with trafficking. 

However, after toxicology reports determined Kelly’s death was caused by a deadly dose of Fentanyl and heroin, they were re-arrested and charged with manslaughter on Aug. 30, 2017.

It marked the first time South Simcoe police officers laid manslaughter charges in connection to a fentanyl overdose. 

On Friday, Lane read aloud to the court victim impact statements on behalf of herself, her husband and grandchildren while the Crown attorney read one from Kelly’s 17-year-old sister.

Despite Walker’s admission that he sold the deadly drugs to Kelly, Lane told BarrieToday that she doesn’t believe he’s remorseful.

“We lost our child, so we’re always hoping he gets more (jail time), but having him off the streets is saving someone else’s child,” said Lane.

“I’m hoping he gets whatever the Crown is putting forward,” she said of sentencing. “Anybody can stand in the witness box and say they’re sorry. I would, too, if I was facing jail time, but he’s not sorry and he would do the same thing over again.”

The second person accused in the case is 55-year-old Tahir Ali of Innisfil. He has also been charged with manslaughter. 

Ali’s next court date is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2019, for a continuation of his preliminary hearing.

None of the allegations against Ali have been tested in court.