COURT HOUSE – Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland announced a guilty verdict in the trial of Christopher R. Small and Christopher M. Verity regarding the drug-induced death of Kevin MacFarlane.
According to a release, the jury verdict was received Oct. 11, after a three-week-long trial before Superior Court Judge Christopher Gibson in the Cape May County Superior Court.
On Oct. 3, 2018, the body of Kevin MacFarlane was discovered and a homicide investigation was conducted by detectives from the New Jersey State Police and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.
The investigation revealed MacFarlane, an Avalon resident, died as a result of a drug overdose which then led to the arrest of Small and Verity.
On Oct. 11, Christopher R. Small, 41, of Marmora, and Christopher M. Verity, 37, of Dennisville, were found guilty of strict liability for a drug-induced death and conspiracy to commit distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.
Small was additionally found guilty of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.
Verity was additionally found guilty of two counts of endangering an injured victim.
Both Small and Verity could be sentenced to 10 to 20 years in state prison for the first degree drug-induced death charges along with consecutive five-year terms for the third-degree distribution, conspiracy, and endangering charges.
Small and Verity are both extended term eligible and at the time of sentencing the judge could also sentence them to life in prison.
Sutherland extended thanks to the New Jersey State Police, the County Prosecutor’s Office detectives and Assistant Prosecutor Edward Shim, who prosecuted the case.
Sutherland said his office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute all individuals involved in selling dangerous drugs which result in overdose deaths in Cape May County.
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