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PRICE — A Carbon County woman has been sentenced to jail time and probation for her role in the drug overdose death of a Price man.
Amee Lavon Averett, 24, spent nearly five months in jail before pleading guilty in March to charges of negligent homicide, a class A misdemeanor, and distribution of a controlled substance, a third-degree felony. On Monday, Judge George Harmond ordered her to serve another five months.
Prosecutors alleged in court records that Averett, Jason Jared Jaimez and Shelbi Elizabeth Mower all engaged in reckless conduct that caused Trevor "TJ" Whiteside's death on Dec. 23, 2013.
Whiteside, 47, died from a heroin overdose, investigators said.
Prosecutors initially charged the trio with manslaughter and distribution of heroin, both second-degree felonies. Jaimez and Averett both accepted plea agreements.
Jaimez, 38, pleaded guilty in December to manslaughter, a third-degree felony, and distribution of a controlled substance, a second-degree felony. He was sentenced to serve 300 days in jail or in an inpatient drug treatment program approved by Adult Probation & Parole.
Like Averett, Jaimez was also ordered to serve 36 months' probation, participate in substance abuse therapy and make restitution to Whiteside's family for funeral and burial expenses.
The case against Mower, 38, is still pending. A two-day jury trial is slated to begin July 15.
