Hancock man convicted in UWSP drug death

STEVENS POINT (WAOW) - A 27-year-old Portage County man pleaded no contest Monday to giving a deadly dose of heroin to a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student, according to online Portage County records.

As part of a plea agreement, Erik Olsen of Hancock was convicted of second-degree reckless homicide in the November 2013 death of Jordan Peterson, 22, who the Portage County coroner says died from a heroin overdose.

Olsen was originally charged with first-degree reckless homicide.

The maximum punishment for second-degree reckless homicide is 25 years in prison, but prosecutors have agreed to recommend that Olsen be sentenced to five years in prison and five years of extended supervision, Assistant District Attorney David Knaapen said.

Prosecutors say Olsen gave the drugs to Peterson the day he died. Peterson was found dead in his off-campus home by a roommate.
Peterson sent a text to Olsen, asking for $25 worth of some type of drug, the criminal complaint said.

Olsen was not a UWSP student. He is to be sentenced June 9. 
Olsen was one of two people charged in Peterson's death.

Charlie Phillips-Moore, 21, of Madison has pleaded not guilty to first-degree reckless homicide. Prosecutors say Phillips-Moore sold the heroin to Olsen who sold it to Peterson shortly before he died.
No trial date has been set.