New Lenox man charged in drug-induced homicide
By Brian Stanley bstanley@stmedianetwork.com March 13, 2013 10:03AM
Updated: April 15, 2013 11:17AM
NEW LENOX — A 26-year-old man has been charged with drug-induced homicide for a fatal overdose last fall.
Nicholas J. DePratt is accused of supplying the heroin that Brandon A. Robinson, 27, used Nov. 25 in the 100 block of Stonegate Road.
Deputy Chief Robert Pawlisz would only say that detectives developed “enough probable cause” looking into Robinson’s death to link the heroin to DePratt and the state’s attorney approved the charge.
DePratt, of 252 S. Cooper Road, was taken to the county jail Tuesday afternoon and is being held on a $500,000 bond.
DePratt was also being sought for failing to appear in court after previous arrests on drug charges by the Joliet police in June 2010 and burglary to a motor vehicle by New Lenox police.
Records show Robinson was also arrested with DePratt in connection with the vehicle break-in on Dec. 10, 2010, after their car was stopped in the 1000 block of Liberty Lane.
DePratt’s is the fourth person arrested for drug-induced homicide in the last two weeks.
On Feb. 28, Emerson D. Harris, 24, was charged in the Sept. 19 death of Chad D. Conley, 28. Conley overdosed in a Bolingbrook parking lot after allegedly buying heroin from Harris.
Later that day, Will County Sheriff’s police were issued a warrant to arrest Maximilian Kalemba, 21.
Kalemba allegedly bought drugs for his friend Randall A. Witte, 23, who fatally overdosed in the back yard of Kalemba’s Homer Glen home on Oct. 26.
On March 5, Kristina L. Keating, 22, was charged with the death of Emilio R. Medina on Oct. 28, 2011.
Keating and two other friends of Medina reportedly drove to Chicago to buy heroin for him, since he was under house arrest.
Drug-induced homicide carries a minimum prison sentence of 15 years.
