A Stroud man whose trial on a first degree murder charge related to the distribution of Fentanyl, a Controlled Dangerous Substance was set for later this month, has pleaded guilty to an amended count of second degree murder.
Formal charges were filed in Lincoln County District Court Dec. 6, 2023 against Dillon Young, 30.
A first amended information was filedApril 17 this year to include supplemental information showing Young was previously convicted in Lincoln County District Court on May 27, 2015 of distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance–including possession with intent to distribute.
On Monday, the state moved to amend the charge to second degree murder.
Appearing before District Judge Sarah Bridge on Monday, Young, as the result of a plea bargain, entered a guilty plea to the amended charge.
Both the state and Young waived a presentence investigation.
Judge Bridge found Young guilty of the amended charge and sentenced him to 40 years in the Department of Corrections with all time suspended except for 20 years. She also assessed him a $100 fine and $100 VCA, court costs and 991 fees.
The judge ordered his sentence on the murder count to run concurrent with another case in which Young was charged with aggravated trafficking in illegal drugs and possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance.
Assistant District Attorney Rachel Thompson prosecuted the case. Young’s defense attorney was Shelley Levisay, Young was accused on about June 16, 2023 in Lincoln County regardless of malice when he took the life of Curtis Smith by the commission or attempted commission of distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance–Fentanyl.
Information contained in a probable cause affidavit shows that Smith was 23 when he died.
In that same affidavit, it states Lincoln County Deputy James Robinson was dispatched to the area of 3550 Road and 890 Road to the north regarding a report of a deceased person found in a vehicle. That was shortly before 8 a.m. on June 16, 2023.
Robinson reportedly learned earlier that morning Stroud Police Department had received a call of a possible missing person from Kellie Smith. She had called asking if Stroud police might have arrested Curtis Smith due to him not coming home that night.
Stroud Police then received a call from a person passing by a vehicle stating it matched the description of the missing person’s vehicle.
Robinson arrived at the area to find a Hyundai Elantra with a tag out of the Miami Nation Tribe of Oklahoma and it returned to Curtis Smith and Kellie Smith or Randel Smith. Robinson then spoke with Stroud Officer Wade Martin who was on the scene.
In the affidavit it was noted that Martin had contacted the car first and broke out a back window to gain access to the vehicle due to his noticing an individual inside.
Robinson asked dispatch to contact a medical examiner to respond to the scene.
Medical Examiner Devin Turner arrived on the scene a short time later, conducting his investigation and taking possession of the body.
As Robinson was completing his search of the vehicle after the body had been removed, he found a wallet with a driver’s license with Curtis Smith’s name and date of birth and he was able to confirm the body was that of Smith.
The affidavit points out that later on June 16, and withoutpriorknowledgeof the ongoing investigation into the death of Smith, other officers with Oklahoma Court Services and a Lincoln County Investigator conducted a routine home visit on a Stroud woman on active probation, Mavryn Walls.
This visit would lead to the arrest of Young.
The affidavit stated during the home visit with Walls that Young, Joshua Standley, Belinda Mullins and Kyle Ward were also there. An officer said narcotics and paraphernalia were located inside Walls’ bedroom and on Young as well.
OCS officers reportedly contacted Stroud Police to respond to the scene to seize the items located. Stroud Police Chief Clint Gaylord and Officer Martin responded to the residence and the narcotics were turned over to them.
Young was found to be in possession of approximately 9.9 grams of methamphetamine, about 48.2 grams of powder form Fentanyl along with 89 small circular pills stamped with “M” and “30” which tested positive for Fentanyl.