Press release from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
On November 7, 2025, in Spokane Superior Court, Randy S. Brown (62) was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and 18 months of community custody for Second Degree Manslaughter and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver after he pleaded guilty to those charges. The elements to prove 2nd Manslaughter include criminal negligence, that the defendant failed to recognize a substantial risk that their actions may cause death.
Court documents alleged Brown went to the home of the victim on October 13, 2023, after the victim told Brown he was “hurting” and needed drugs. Brown and the victim were friends, and Brown visited the victim regularly. Brown delivered the drugs, stayed at the victim’s home for several hours that evening and then left. The next day the victim was found dead. Detectives responding to the scene found pills which appeared consistent with counterfeit fentanyl scattered near the victim. An autopsy showed the victim died from the toxic effects of multiple drugs, including fentanyl.
With Brown’s offender score of 2, which includes a prior felony, the standard range for sentencing on the manslaughter charge was 31 to 41 months in prison. The range for the possession with intent to deliver charge, with Brown’s offender score, was 12 to 20 months in prison. Both parties agreed to the low end of the range on the manslaughter charge and the high end on the possession charge. Judge Charnelle Bjelkengren followed the recommendation and sentenced Brown to 31 months and 20 months to be served concurrently.
During sentencing, the victim’s son spoke to Brown saying he forgave him because his father was one of the most forgiving people he knew, and his dad would want him to extend forgiveness.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dale Nagy handled the case for the Prosecutor’s Office. We thank him, our victim/witness advocates, and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case.
