Alpena man charged with delivery of controlled substance resulting in death | News, Sports, Jobs

News photo by Temi Fadayomi Alpena County Coroner Dr. Paul Wagner testified Monday during the preliminary examination of Alec Sherwood. Sherwood is facing charges for allegedly selling drugs that led to the overdose death of another man.

ALPENA – A preliminary hearing was held Monday in the case of 30-year-old Alec Sherwood, who is accused of selling drugs that led to the overdose death of another man.

Sherwood is charged with delivery of a controlled substance resulting in death, a charge that carries a potential life sentence under Michigan law, underscoring the seriousness of the allegation that Sherwood delivered drugs that resulted in a fatal overdose.

The investigation began on November 20, 2023, when Michigan State Police officers were called to a residence on Lake Winyah Road in Alpena Township for a report of a 28-year-old man who had apparently overdosed on drugs, according to an MSP news release.

Evidence collected at the crime scene led police and detectives to the address of Sherwood’s residence in Alpena.

After executing a search warrant, MSP officers, with the assistance of investigators from the Huron Undercover Narcotics Team, seized evidence from Sherwood’s residence. The investigation resulted in sufficient probable cause, leading to Sherwood’s arrest following an interview on January 31.

During the preliminary investigation, the District Attorney’s Office called Dr. Paul Wagner, the Alpena County Coroner, to testify as to the victim’s probable cause of death.

Wagner reviewed the various examinations and tests performed on the victim, including the toxicology report and the autopsy, and explained that their results ultimately indicated that the victim died by asphyxiation as a result of acute drug intoxication.

Despite initial uncertainties regarding heart damage, Wagner emphasized that drug-induced respiratory failure was the main cause of death.

“Ultimately, drugs were the main reason for his death,” Wagner said.

Wagner’s findings are consistent with investigative evidence suggesting Sherwood is responsible.

Michigan State Trooper Thomas Bihle, who served as lead investigator in the case, was the next witness called by the prosecution.

Bihle testified that based on the investigation and an interview with Sherwood, he was convinced that Sherwood was ultimately responsible for supplying the victim with the fatal drugs.

“When I asked Alec Sherwood why (the victim) went home with his drugs, Alec replied, ‘Because he thinks I gave them to him,'” Bihle said. “That statement led us to conclude that Sherwood was responsible for providing the drugs that (the victim) ingested.”

A third witness was to be called but was unable to testify due to a family emergency.

For this reason, the examination will probably be completed on a different day. A date has not yet been set.

Reach Temi Fadayomi at 989-358-5693 or [email protected].