Glenn Sunich, 53, was sentenced to not less than 54 months and not more than 20 years for his conviction for two counts of delivery of Fentanyl and two counts of delivery of morphine to Robert Smith, also of Onaway. Cheboygan County 53rd Circuit Court Judge Scott Pavlich also sentenced Sunich to not less than 72 months to not more than five years for the guilty verdicts handed down by a jury on charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice, to be served consecutively after the first sentence.
Pavlich also overruled the jury's conviction of Sunich on a charge of murder/manslaughter. The jury deliberated less than four hours in November before finding Sunich guilty of aiding Smith's death on Dec. 9, 2005. The jury also found Sunich not guilty of two drug delivery charges after the fact.
“This is a culture of drugs, and he (Smith) was getting drugs from many sources, not just Mr. Sunich,” Pavlich said in explaining his decision. “He was either negligent in deciding how much of the drugs he wanted to ingest or he wanted to hurt himself, but, ultimately, he caused his own death.”
Outside the courtroom, Smith's parents found little consolation in seeing Sunich sent to prison. Beverly Smith, who wept as her husband read a victim impact statement before the sentence was passed, seemed to feel that a measure of justice had been reached.
“I think they got him good,” she said in the hallway.
James Smith, father of the deceased, was visibly shaken by the removal of Sunich as the person chiefly responsible for his son's death.
“I think it's a bunch of bullcrap that they dropped the manslaughter conviction,” the elder Smith said. “He's been peddling dope for 20 years and he's been getting away with it for 20 years. He took a father away from his son.”
Sunich maintained his innocence when asked if he had anything to say before the judge.
“I didn't give Bob the drugs, he stole them from me,” Sunich told the court. “I wasn't there.”
Pavlich also overruled the jury's conviction of Sunich on a charge of murder/manslaughter. The jury deliberated less than four hours in November before finding Sunich guilty of aiding Smith's death on Dec. 9, 2005. The jury also found Sunich not guilty of two drug delivery charges after the fact.
“This is a culture of drugs, and he (Smith) was getting drugs from many sources, not just Mr. Sunich,” Pavlich said in explaining his decision. “He was either negligent in deciding how much of the drugs he wanted to ingest or he wanted to hurt himself, but, ultimately, he caused his own death.”
Outside the courtroom, Smith's parents found little consolation in seeing Sunich sent to prison. Beverly Smith, who wept as her husband read a victim impact statement before the sentence was passed, seemed to feel that a measure of justice had been reached.
“I think they got him good,” she said in the hallway.
James Smith, father of the deceased, was visibly shaken by the removal of Sunich as the person chiefly responsible for his son's death.
“I think it's a bunch of bullcrap that they dropped the manslaughter conviction,” the elder Smith said. “He's been peddling dope for 20 years and he's been getting away with it for 20 years. He took a father away from his son.”
Sunich maintained his innocence when asked if he had anything to say before the judge.
“I didn't give Bob the drugs, he stole them from me,” Sunich told the court. “I wasn't there.”
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