Washington Man Avoids Trial In Drug Delivery Death

A Washington man accused of selling cocaine laced with fentanyl to two other Washington men pleaded guilty to felony charges of drug delivery resulting in death. Robert Hayes, 41 was charged with selling the fatal doses of cocaine to Brandon Howard, 37 in December of 2019 and then to Joseph Francis, 43 in January of 2020. Hayes’ cases were scheduled for trial beginning on Monday. He avoided trial by pleading guilty to two counts of drug delivery resulting in death and one count of illegal use of a communications device. All three felonies will net him incarceration in state prison for 8½ to 20 years. Hayes avoided a possible sentence of 20 to 40 years in each case if a jury were to find him guilty. He will be responsible for restitution to both families for funeral expenses in an amount more than $21,000. A portion of that restitution could be paid by a co-defendant  in the Howard case. Ashley Matthews is facing similar charges as Hayes. Her case is working its way through the court system.