In Midland on Thursday, a federal judge sentenced Zane Paul O’Neal, 23, to 23 years in federal prison after O’Neal admitted to his role in the death of Sandy Brooke Franklin, 18, last year.
According to court records, on July 27, Franklin was taken into custody following a traffic stop. O’Neal was driving, and he admitted to providing three grams of meth to Franklin so she could hide it from law enforcement during the traffic stop.
He admitted that several hours after Franklin’s arrest, she called and told O’Neal she had eaten the meth at his suggestion.
On July 29, Franklin began exhibiting signs of illness in the Midland County Jail. She informed the jail staff that she had previously concealed and swallowed meth. Franklin was taken by jail staff to Midland Memorial Hospital where she later died.
In October, 2015, O’Neal pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine that resulted in a foreseeable death.
(Information from yourbasin.com)
