Man gets sentencing alternative in fatal Everett overdose

Avery Bresnan, a 26-year-old from Sedro-Woolley, has been sentenced to nearly 2½ years in prison after being convicted of controlled substance homicide in connection with the overdose death of his friend, Jayden Barker-Fisher. The trial revealed that Barker-Fisher had purchased counterfeit oxycodone pills from Bresnan, who claimed they were highly potent. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner confirmed that Barker-Fisher died from acute fentanyl intoxication, a substance responsible for many overdose deaths in the area. Prosecutors pushed for a severe sentence to deter drug-related crimes, emphasizing the ongoing opioid crisis fueled by fentanyl distribution. Bresnan's defense argued for a Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative, citing his addiction history and the need for treatment.

The court's ruling aims to balance community protection with the potential for rehabilitation, highlighting the complexities of drug offenses and addiction in the judicial system.