T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Jesse James Damico is sentenced to 54 months in prison for supplying drugs to a woman who died of a fatal overdose.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Jesse James Damico received the maximum sentence this week for drug-related crimes in a case involving the Sept. 6 death of 30-year-old Lauren Decker.

The charges stem from an incident at Damico’s residence, where he gave cocaine to Decker. According to the prosecutor’s office, Decker was deceased when first responders were called to the scene by Damico.

On Monday, Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra sentenced Damico, 30, of 50801 Rehm Road, St. Clairsville, for attempted corruption of another with drugs and possession of cocaine. Vavra imposed a three-year sentence on the attempted corruption charge and an 18-month sentence on the possession charge. They are to be served consecutively for a total of 54 months behind bars.

During sentencing, Damico’s attorney, Dennis McNamara, asked Vavra to consider factors such as Damico’s distress in the matter.

“Both she and he had drug addiction problems of somewhat long standing,” McNamara said, asking that a sentence of four years be considered.

“I want to apologize to Lauren’s family. It was a tragic event. If I could change the outcome, I would certainly,” Damico said.

Vavra pointed out Damico’s prior record, including misdemeanor convictions for operating a vehicle under the influence and driving under suspension. Vavra added that while on bond and awaiting sentencing, Damico tested positive for use of numerous illegal drugs.

“He supplied the victim with cocaine and another substance. He later found her unresponsive. He left her like that for nearly a day,” Vavra said. “Mr. Damico, at least for the next four and a half years you cannot assist in killing anyone else by giving them drugs.”

Belmont County Prosecutor Dan Fry said the sentence was appropriate.

“This case involved two individuals that were involved in a relationship, and one was supplying the other with drugs,” Fry said. “Mr. Damico never intended for his friend to die, however he did give her the drugs that led to her death … and that can never be overlooked.”

He added that drugs such as heroin and cocaine are particularly dangerous today, since his office is seeing more cases in which they are laced with lethal drugs such as fentanyl and carfentanil.

Belmont County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan said fentanyl and cocaine were both found in Decker’s system, but he could not say if the cocaine Damico gave her was laced with fentanyl in this instance or if the fentanyl had come from something Decker had taken earlier.

“Was the fentanyl in the cocaine? We don’t know,” Flanagan said.