Rogers man arrested in connection with fentanyl death pleads not guilty

ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A Rogers man accused of supplying a man with fentanyl who later died of an overdose has pleaded not guilty, according to court documents.

Enrique De Jesus Valdez, 23, was arrested on May 9 by Benton County Drug Units during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation.

He was booked on aggravated assault, drug possession, intent to deliver, trafficking a controlled substance, and possession of a firearm charges.

On May 13, Valdez was additionally charged with aggravated death by delivery for his alleged involvement in the death of 19-year-old Charles Gephart.

A news release from the Rogers Police Department said the department started an investigation on November 11, 2023, into Gephart’s death.

The Benton County Coroner’s Office originally listed Gephart’s death as an “accidental overdose” and it was later confirmed as “fentanyl intoxication.”

RPD said the investigation revealed that Valdez supplied the fentanyl to Gephart.

Aggravated death by delivery is a new charge that was created by the passage of Act 584 in April 2023 , also known as the Fentanyl Enforcement and Accountability Act , by the Arkansas House of Representatives.

The charge is applied when a person gives fentanyl or another controlled substance to someone who dies from it, according to the law .

Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Robinson said in the release that this is the first prosecution of the newly codified crime in the county.

“This drug has caused tremendous damage to families across this region and this county, and my office will aggressively prosecute individuals accused of distributing and profiting from the addiction of others,” Robinson said. “We will not abide nor turn a blind eye to this business in our county; rather, we will actively investigate and prosecute individuals and organizations that choose to distribute this poison.”

The release said if convicted, the aggravated death by delivery charge can carry a sentence of 20 to 60 years.

Valdez has an omnibus hearing scheduled for September 25.

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