Man Gets 14 Years For Role In Heroin Overdose Of Boy, 13, At Sleepover

VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — A man accused of injecting a 13-year-old with the heroin that caused him to overdose and die at a sleepover was sentenced to 14 years in state prison Monday.

Woodland Hills resident Brett Michael Cronin pleaded no contest in April to supplying heroin to his younger brother's friend at a sleepover August 8.

The 24-year-old bought and injected himself with the drug before injecting the 13-year-old friend, according to homicide detectives with the LAPD's Topanga station.

Prosecutor Kaveh Faturechi, who called the 14-year sentence "considerable", said Cronin "not only actually administered a deadly dose of the heroin, but he let the boy suffer."

Shortly after being injected the teen started convulsing, according to Faturechi, who said Cronin opted to check on the boy every couple of hours instead of calling 911.

A judge dismissed the related charges of murder and child abuse as part of a plea agreement negotiated with prosecutors.

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