Two suspects accused of causing the heroin overdose death of an Allendale NJ man are reportedly trying to secure a plea deal with prosecutors.

The two suspects, who hail from Paterson NJ, were indicted in April 2014 on manslaughter charges for causing the drug-induced death of the victim. The suspects are accused of selling the heroin which resulted in a fatal overdose.

Under the New Jersey “Strict Liability in Drug-Induced Deaths” statute, prosecutors are able to seek enhanced penalties against defendants who sell deadly drugs on NJ streets.

Although the statute is rarely invoked by law enforcement, many prosecutors are beginning to turn to the statute in an attempt to combat the rise of heroin abuse throughout New Jersey.

The suspects in this case recently appeared in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack NJ, where the judge told them that they have until February 9 to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors in the case.

According to prosecutors, there was already a plea deal on the table; the suspects could have accepted a plea agreement which called for them to serve 10-year prison terms.

Now the suspects are reportedly attempting to arrive at a more favorable deal; they want 5-year prison sentences in exchange for guilty pleas.

If the suspects and prosecutors fail to arrive at an agreement by February 9, the suspects will stand trial and face significantly longer sentences.

For more information about this case, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Paterson Men Charged with Heroin Death of Allendale Man Seek Plea Deal, Report Says.”