Jackson County families, Calhoun County Prosecutor testify in support of plan

State Rep. Sarah Lightner has introduced a new plan to crack down on fentanyl trafficking in Michigan.

Her legislation protects Michiganders from deadly drugs by establishing harsher penalties for criminals who manufacture or distribute fentanyl, including a new classification for dealers who distribute fentanyl to minors and new mandatory minimum sentences.

“Our current laws hardly hold fentanyl dealers accountable — even when the poison they peddle kills someone,” said Lightner, R-Springport. “Far too often, these criminals walk away with a slap on the wrist while Michigan families are left to grieve their loved ones. That’s unacceptable. We need real consequences for those pushing this deadly drug into our communities, and my plan will ensure they face the punishment they deserve.”

House Bills 4255-4256 establish new mandatory minimum sentences for the manufacture, creation and delivery of fentanyl, heroin, carfentanil, and other derivatives of fentanyl, including five to 20 years in prison for less than 50 grams; 10 to 25 years in prison for 50 to 450 grams; 15 to 40 years for 450 to 1,000 grams; and 30 years to life for more than 1,000 grams.

Additionally, an individual 18 and older convicted of delivering any amount of fentanyl to a minor will receive a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison, up to 40 years in prison.

Finally, anyone who sells or offers to sell a product containing heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil without disclosing its presence commits a felony punishable by 10 years in prison. This sentence must be served before and in addition to any other prison time for the sale, cannot be suspended, and does not allow for parole or probation.

Mike Hirst, who founded the Jackson County nonprofit Andy’s Angels after the death of his son, joined Lightner in Lansing to testify in support of the plan. He said harsher penalties for dealers who distribute heroin and fentanyl is a step society needs to take.

“These people out here selling this – they have no heart. They’re the coldest people I’ve ever met,” Hirst said. “They could care less whether you live or die. To you, they’re a customer that’s a slave to them. They know that every 12 hours you’re going to be calling them up because you’ll be going into withdrawal. And they make their living doing that.”

Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert also spoke in support of the plan.

“Most of the drugs today – 78% of the drugs we deal with – have fentanyl. To claim, ‘I didn’t know there was fentanyl in it,’ is really difficult to say these days,” Gilbert said. “About 75% of the overdose deaths in our county – and probably the state – have fentanyl in the drugs being used. … We’ve got to start saving people.”

Julie Risner spoke about her son, Christopher, who died from an overdose in 2018 after receiving heroin laced with fentanyl. The dealer who supplied the deadly combination was eventually sentenced to 11 years in prison. He had previously been arrested for dealing narcotics but was released after only short periods in custody.

“Fentanyl is killing our families and our community,” Risner said.

House Bills 4255-4256 remain under consideration in the House Judiciary Committee, which Lightner chairs.

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