A Sarasota County jury convicted John Michels of Manslaughter and Sale or Delivery of Carfentanil in connection with the death of a 41-year-old man in March 2017.

Deputies were first called to Egerton Circle and Wexford Lane in Sarasota, on the morning of March 28, for reports of a man lying face down on the side of the road. Upon their arrival, deputies quickly confirmed the victim was deceased. Over the course of several months, detectives utilized surveillance video from a nearby gas station which captured the victim interacting with Michels only a few hours prior to his death. As the investigation continued, the Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed on August 1, that the victim died as a result of intoxication by carfentanil. Michels was interviewed and admitted that he provided the victim with the drug just prior to his death.

On Tuesday, Michels was sentenced to 11 years in prison followed by three years of probation. The sheriff’s office thanks the State Attorney’s Office for the role they played in this successful prosecution.