Police: Lacey Man Jailed in Connection to Drug Overdose Death

A Forked River man was charged in connection with the heroin overdose death of a 27-year-old Lacey man, Capt. David Paprota said in a news release.

Kenneth Stauton, 33, was charged with the first-degree crime of strict liability for a drug-induced death.

Police responded to a local residence on Jan. 16 after a 27-year-old man was discovered unconscious, Paprota said. While assisting the victim, police found an amount of heroin and drug paraphernalia consistent with recent use.

The victim was transported to Community Medical Center where he later died of an apparent heroin overdose, he said.

The following evening, Detective Sgt. Chris Cornelius, Det. Robert Surtees and Det. Brian Flynn executed several search warrants in an attempt to locate the seller of the heroin that caused the death.

Stauton was arrested after 191 folds containing heroin were found in his possession, Paprota said. He was sent to the Ocean County Jail with bail set at $60,000. Stauton later posted bail.

The investigation into the death continued by Lacey Police and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office during the past two months.

On March 13, Lacey detectives and members of the Ocean County Special Operations Group executed a search warrant of the Lee Way, Forked River home of Stauton and his girlfriend Linda Rao, 25.

Staunton was charged with strict liability for a drug-induced death in relation to the death of the 27-year-old Lacey man. He was also charged with possession of heroin and distribution of heroin, which caused the death, Paprota said.

The search of the residence on March 13 also yielded 170 glassine folds containing heroin and drug paraphernalia, which led to the arrest of Rao, Paprota said.

Rao was charged with possession of heroin and intent to distribute heroin. She was sent to the Ocean County Jail with bail set at $100,000.

Staunton was sent to the Ocean County Jail with cash only bail set at $250,000. In addition to the arrest warrant associated with the death, Staunton was charged with possession of heroin and intent to distribute heroin.

If found guilty of strict liability, Staunton faces 10 to 20 years in prison.

A third person, Bruce Ipock, 47, of Forked River, who was visiting Stauton and Rao’s home during the execution of the search warrant, was arrested, Paprota said. He was sent to the Ocean County Jail after an outstanding Ocean County Sheriff’s Department warrant for violation of probation was discovered.

According to Ocean County Jail's Inmate Information, Ipock was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance. His bail was set at $1,060.

“The Lacey Township Police Department is committed to thoroughly investigating drug overdose deaths and holding those accountable who sell the illegal narcotics,” Paprota said. "Lacey Township has suffered one heroin death this year thus far and the appropriate steps have been taken to bring the person responsible for selling the heroin to justice.”