Manslaughter charge for accused N.J. drug dealer

TOMS RIVER, N.J. - A South Jersey man accused of selling heroin to a man who later died has been indicted on manslaughter charges.

Levi Brown, 23, of Pleasantville, also was charged with distributing heroin, causing a drug-induced death, and resisting arrest in the indictment handed up by an Ocean County grand jury. He could face nearly 37 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Prosecutors say Eugene Murtagh Jr., 39, of Lacey Township, bought heroin from Brown in Pleasantville on Sept. 25, 2009. Murtagh soon ingested the drug and died later that day, shortly after he was rushed to a hospital.

Brown was being held in the Ocean County Jail after failing to post $500,000 cash bail. Officials said Sunday they did not know whether Brown had retained an attorney. - AP