RICHLANDS MAN GETS 13 YEARS IN OXYCONTIN OVERDOSE

TAZEWELL, Va. - A Richlands man who pleaded guilty last month to felony
homicide in connection with a fatal OxyContin overdose was sentenced
Tuesday by Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Donald Mullins to 13 years
and six months in prison. Robert Maurice Stallard, 43, of 100 Oxford Square
Apartments No. 58 in Richlands, was arrested last year after being indicted
by the county's grand jury on charges that he supplied the drugs that
killed Nicholas Keith Dickerson, 40, of No. 66, Oxford Square Apartments,
and then dumped the man's body. Stallard was charged with felony homicide,
distribution of oxycodone, a schedule II controlled substance, and
disposing of a dead body.

The charges came as a result of the investigation into the death of
Dickerson, according to Commonwealth Attorney Dennis Lee. Stallard entered
the guilty plea last month just minutes before he was scheduled to stand
trial on the charges in Circuit Court.

Mullins sentenced Stallard to 15 years in prison on the felony homicide
charge, but then suspended five years of that sentence. Stallard also was
sentenced to five years in prison for the distribution of a schedule II
controlled substance, but Mullins also suspended two years of that
sentence. Mullins also sentenced Stallard to six months in prison on the
charge of disposing of a dead body.

As a result of the suspended sentence, Stallard will spend 13 years and six
months in prison.

"I certainly would like to have seen a harsher sentence, but it does appear
to be in line with what has happened in other jurisdictions," Lee said.

Stallard is alleged to have supplied Dickerson with a lethal amount of
oxycodone, and is alleged to have assisted Dickerson in administering the
drug. Lee said the drug was taken intravenously. The two were neighbors,
and apparent acquaintances.

Authorities found Dickerson's body on the grounds of the apartment complex
on Sept. 4., 2000. The state medical examiner's office in Roanoke
determined the cause of death was an overdose of oxycodone.

The earlier proceedings in Circuit Court were filmed by a television crew
from the cable network HBO. The network is filming a documentary on the
abuse of the prescription painkiller in Southwest Virginia and southern
West Virginia, which is expected to be aired later this year. Lee said the
investigation is believed to be Virginia's first murder case related to an
OxyContin overdose.