The Placer County District Attorney’s Office announced today that it has now filed murder charges against 34-year-old James Teahan of Sacramento County, as it relates to a local fentanyl death. This will be the fifth murder charge filed by the Placer County District Attorney’s Office in response to a fatal fentanyl poisoning, according the case press release issued by the District Attorney’s office.
This arrest was made after an investigation by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office newly created Opioid Response Team in partnership with the Placer DA’s Special Prosecution Unit. This is the first murder charge investigated by the Placer Opioid Response Team. The team was founded in April of 2024, the same month this case occurred. Sheriff Woo and the Board of Supervisors expedited the creation of this team as fentanyl poisonings continue to rise in Placer County. The Placer Opioid Response team is here to combat the opioid epidemic by holding dealers accountable.
The defendant appeared in court where he retained counsel. The defendant was arraigned, and the next hearing will be August 27, 2024, at the Placer County Superior Court in Roseville in Department 20. The defendant will be held at the Placer County jail without bail.
Learn more about the office’s Special Prosecutions Unit here: placer.ca.gov/9757/Special-Prosecutions-Unit @followers