North Carolina law: Drug dealers could be charged with second-degree murder
Under a new North Carolina law, a drug dealer who illegally sells a controlled substance that causes someone's death could be charged with second-degree murder.
The "death by distribution" act, signed into law Monday by Gov. Roy Cooper, allows prosecutors to charge dealers with a Class B2 felony, which carries a penalty of up to 40 years in prison, if they have a previous unlawful distribution conviction.
If not, they could face a Class C felony charge, which includes other crimes such as first-degree kidnapping and carries a maximum of up to 20 years in prison.
