Last Thursday, Ventura resident Shiloh Chenoweth was convicted on two felony charges: possession of fentanyl for sale and possession of methamphetamine for sale.
Chenoweth was arrested on May 24, 2022, after a Ventura Police Department officer found him, a known parolee, carrying fentanyl and methamphetamine in his backpack. Other evidence of drug commercial activity included a digital scale, drug paraphernalia, and texts on Chenoweth's phone. Chenoweth admitted to the transactions but later rephrased his actions as "giving" away fentanyl, rather than selling it according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Considered 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, fentanyl has gained notoriety as a prevalent drug in overdose mortality in the U.S. Last year, Ventura County recorded 278 overdose deaths, 181 of which had traces of fentanyl.
Prosecutor Erin Weilbacher voiced her gratitude towards the jury and empathized with the community, saying, "Ventura Police Officers respond to multiple fentanyl overdoses every week, often multiple overdoses a day. Anyone selling fentanyl is directly endangering our community members. I am proud of holding accountable the defendant in this case for his actions and grateful to the jury members who did likewise."
Due to this conviction, Chenoweth will receive a Dangerous Drug Advisement on his sentencing date, warning him of facing second-degree murder charges if he continues distributing and furnishing fentanyl or its analogs.
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office is dedicated to prosecute those involved in fentanyl distribution firmly. They call upon the public to understand the hazards of fentanyl, find support for individuals dealing with addiction, and find overdose rescue kits. Information can be found at fentanylventuracounty.org.
With sentencing scheduled for January 18, 2024, in the Ventura County Superior Court and bail set at $100,000.
