CRIME

Oshkosh woman sentenced in 2014 heroin death

Nathaniel Shuda
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Lacy M. Russell

A 29-year-old Oshkosh woman will spend four years in prison after authorities say she helped an ex-boyfriend get the heroin that killed him.

Lacy M. Russell was sentenced Monday in Winnebago County Circuit Court on one count of being a party to a crime of delivering less than 3 grams of heroin as a subsequent offense. Judge Scott Woldt also sentenced Russell to four years of extended supervision and ordered her to maintain absolute sobriety, not to possess any controlled substances without a valid prescription and to undergo any treatment deemed necessary.

RELATED: Oshkosh woman convicted in 2014 heroin death

The charge previously was reduced from one count of first-degree reckless homicide by the delivery of drugs. Woldt emphasized while the charge was reduced, the incident still resulted in the death of another person.

"Can it be more serious? No, it can't," Woldt said. "I'm not blaming you for the (entire) heroin epidemic; you're part of the problem."

Battling her own addiction, Russell failed a previous attempt to stay clean as part of her probation on previous drug charges, Winnebago County Assistant District Attorney Tracy Paider said. Russell even admitted to taking heroin one week before giving birth to her daughter, who experienced pain from potential heroin withdrawal, Paider said.

RELATED: More Wisconsin babies born addicted to heroin

"Ms. Russell, obviously at the time of this offense, was into the throes of heroin addiction," Paider said. "If she can't even stay clean to to make sure her child is safe and born healthy, she needs a significant period of time incarceration."

Russell understands the severity of her actions, and her desire to stay alive for her daughters will motivate her to complete drug treatment while in prison, defense attorney Eric Heywood said.

Fighting back tears, Russell apologized to Lichtwald's family members, who gathered in an otherwise empty courtroom.

"I do want to take responsibility for my actions," Russell said. "For the role that I played in Ian's death and the pain I've cause his family, I'm so sorry."

RELATED: Man sentenced in Oshkosh heroin overdose death

According to the criminal complaint, Russell set up and drove Lichtwald to a meeting Feb. 15, 2014, with Reginald L. Love, who sold Lichtwald the heroin that contributed to his death. Lichtwald's sister, found her brother dead about 9:15 p.m. the next day at their Oshkosh residence. Love was sentenced Jan. 22 to five years in prison and four years of extended supervision on one count of delivering a Schedule I narcotic as a subsequent offense.

"This is my baby brother," Stacey Lichtwald said during Monday's sentencing, holding up a photo of Ian Lichtwald next to her brother's ashes. "What an amazing man he grew up to be — so caring and so loving; his heart was gigantic. ... He had hopes and dreams of having a family of his own one day.

"Being a mother, I have empathy for other mothers, and I have empathy for Lacy as well," Lichtwald said. "I pray she will get clean and stay clean for her children ... so she doesn't end up in a box like this."

Reach Nathaniel Shuda at 920-426-6632 or nshuda@thenorthwestern.com; on Twitter: @onwnshuda.