Thursday's Internet Edition, March 11, 2010.

Ricky Wayne Snodgrass, 48, entered into a plea agreement instead of going on trial for the death of William Mark Greathouse.

Police said Snodgrass had a prescription for fentanyl, a pain medication normally taken through a patch worn on the skin.

Police said Snodgrass, Greathouse and Benjamin Jackson smoked fentanyl in September 2007 at the Snodgrass residence at 28 Rustic Acres, west of Spencer.

According to the police report, Jackson rode a bicycle to town that morning to fill a fentanyl prescription for Snodgrass and returned with the patches and a case of beer.

After smoking the drug, police said all three men passed out. Greathouse never regained consciousness.

An autopsy indicated his death was caused by a combination of fentanyl and alcohol. Greathouse was 45.

Snodgrass was indicted for murder last May, almost two years after his friend’s death.

He was scheduled to go on trial in December but entered no contest pleas to lesser charges, without admitting any guilt in the death.

Monday in Roane Circuit Court, Judge Tom Evans gave Snodgrass the maximum terms of 1-to-15 years for delivery of a controlled substance and one year for involuntary manslaughter. Evans ruled the sentences would be served consecutively.

Evans also ordered Greathouse to pay fines of $10,000 for the delivery charge and $750 for involuntary manslaughter.

Prosecutor Josh Downey said fentanyl abuse has resulted in several deaths in Roane County the last few years.

He said the case should send a message that the drug is dangerous, not only to those who abuse it, but to those who make it available to others.

Also on Monday, Evans sentenced a Walton man who allegedly was intoxicated when he struck other vehicles while leading police on a chase in July 2008.

John Kevin Fields, 46, was sentenced to 1-to-5 years for fleeing in a vehicle while DUI, and one year for destruction of property and obstructing an officer. Evans said the terms could be served concurrently. Fields was also fined $50.

In another case, Derek Daniel Nichols, 20, of Spencer was ordered to undergo a 60-day evaluation at a state correctional center before he is sentenced on charges of burglary and bringing stolen property into the state.

Also on Monday, Evans agreed to allow Alyssa Sue Cassell, 31 of Dave’s Run Road, Clendenin to serve two sentences concurrently.

She was sentenced to two terms of 1-to-5 years in October 2008 after she was convicted of child abuse involving her school-age son.

Evans originally allowed Cassell to serve the sentences on home confinement. She disappeared after cutting off her ankle bracelet two months later.

Last July, police found Cassell staying at a Linden residence. She was ordered to serve the remainder of her two sentences in jail.

Monday, Evans agreed to Cassell’s request that she be allowed to serve the two sentences at the same time, instead of consecutively.