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Home/Press Release/OCPO CONTINUES TO LEAD IN STRICT LIABILITY CHARGES AGAINST THOSE PROVIDING ILLEGAL NARCOTICS TO THOSE FIGHTING ADDICTION
NICHOLAS MARCO PICONE

OCPO CONTINUES TO LEAD IN STRICT LIABILITY CHARGES AGAINST THOSE PROVIDING ILLEGAL NARCOTICS TO THOSE FIGHTING ADDICTION

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Lacey Township Police Chief Michael DiBella today announced the arrest of NICHOLAS MARCO PICONE, 32, of Lacey, NJ in connection with the drug induced death of Anthony Terrill Jr.

            “Prosecutor Coronato stated, “OCPO will continue to lead the way in developing Strict Liability/Drug Induced Death cases.  It’s critical during this opiate crisis we take strong punitive measures against dealers bringing death to those fighting addiction”.

On Wednesday (6/20/18), Nicholas Picone was charged with Strict Liability Drug Induced Death.  Picone is currently incarcerated in the Ocean County Correctional Facility since April 12, 2018 on prior narcotic drug possession and distribution charges stemming from the same investigation.

The above charges stem from the death investigation of Anthony Terrill Jr, 29, that occurred on April 8, 2018 in Lacey.  On that date (4/8) at approximately 2:10 am, the Lacey Township Police Department responded to the Wawa located at 444 Route 9 South in Forked River following a call from employees of the store reporting an unconscious male in the bathroom of the establishment.  The male, later identified as Terrill, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lacey Officers at the scene observing signs of a drug overdose immediately, per the Prosecutor’s directive, contacted the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Unit to respond.  The ensuing intensive investigation would ultimately lead back to Picone and link him to the death.  An autopsy by the Ocean County Medical Examiner would confirm that Terrill’s death were drug induced due to lethal dose of heroin combined with fentanyl.

Members of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit and High Tech Crimes Unit, Lacey Township Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit conducted this investigation.  Ocean County Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Michael Weatherstone is the case prosecutor.

The media and public are reminded that criminal charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.