Ontario fentanyl dealer charged with murder after Eastvale overdose death
EASTVALE, Calif., — Authorities say the fentanyl overdose-related death of a 19-year-old man in November 2020 has led to the arrest of a man they say sold the victim the drugs that ultimately caused his death.
Riverside County is just one of the many and growing number of California counties that is now prosecuting dealers who sell or provide deadly narcotics to those who then suffer overdose-related deaths.
One of the overdose-murder cases now being prosecuted include a Jurupa Valley couple who were charged earlier this month in the overdose-related death of their 15-month-old toddler, who passed away after reportedly ingesting a fentanyl-laced pill that was left within the child’s reach. During their more than year-long investigation, officials determined the couple’s then-four-month-old child also tested positive for drugs, including Cannabinoids and Carboxy-THC; and officials have said the couple may have been purposefully providing cannabis and fentanyl to their young children.
Another high-profile case involved the fentanyl overdose-related death of a 16-year-old French Valley girl in Southern California who died after being given or sold the dangerous narcotic. Two men were arrested in the girl’s tragic death and have been charged with murder.
LEADING THE RCNS HEADLINES:
Local woman, 22, ID’d after deadly head-on wreck in Temecula
UPDATE: Hwy. 79 between Beaumont and SJ reopened after 7-vehicle Lamb Canyon crash
Although using crosswalk, Hemet pedestrian was crossing against red light when fatally struck
BREAKING: Body found outside Riverside business – Investigation remains active at the scene
Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies began their investigation around 2:45 p.m. on Nov. 9 of last year, when they were dispatched to a call of an unresponsive male adult, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Ryan Marcuse reported last night.
The man’s lifeless body was discovered in the 6400 block of Wells Springs Street, in the city of Eastvale.
A more than year-long investigation into the fentanyl overdose-related death of a 19-year-old led to the arrest of Alvin Linton Jr., 36, of Ontario, who officials allege sold the victim the deadly drug. RSO booking photo
“Through extensive investigation by investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Overdose Death Investigations and Narcotics Unit, it was determined the decedent, Javon Richard, was a victim of homicide due to a Fentanyl overdose,” explained Marcuse.
As their more than year-long investigation continued, officials developed leads and gathered information that led them to identifying Alvin Barrington Linton Jr., 36, of Ontario, as the man responsible for selling the fentanyl that killed Richard.
Linton was located on Niagara Drive in Fontana yesterday and taken into custody without incident.
After his arrest, Linton was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of second-degree murder.
SEE RELATED:
Second man arrested after French Valley girl died from fentanyl overdose
Jurupa Valley couple charged in toddler’s fentanyl related overdose death
Fatal Lake Elsinore fentanyl overdose leads to dealer’s arrest, murder charge
Victim of second fatal fentanyl overdose in days ID’d – Dealer remains in custody on murder charges
Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail or bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice tomorrow morning.
Anyone with further information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Hollingsworth at (951) 955-1700. Callers can refer to incident file number EV203140038 and can remain anonymous.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.
Pingback: Officials seek public’s help after Palm Desert man gunned down while taking late-night walk – Riverside County News Source
Pingback: Ejected from vehicle, driver dies after Norco solo-vehicle crash – Riverside County News Source