James B. Woolsey, 37, Greenfield
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield man arrested late last week in connection with the overdose death of another has been officially charged with the most serious level of felony crime. Officials with the Hancock County Prosecutor’s office filed two charges this week in Hancock County Superior Court 1.
James B. Woolsey, 37, 40 block of Longfellow Lane, has been charged with a Level 1 felony count of dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death and a Level 5 felony count of dealing a scheduled I controlled substance. The most serious charge carries between 20 to 40 years in prison with an advisory sentence of 30 years.
The case was officially opened in Superior Court 1 Monday, April 25. Woolsey made his initial appearance Tuesday, April 26 where a $55,000 cash bond was set.
According to officials from the Greenfield Police Department and a probable cause affidavit, illegal drugs caused the death of Joseph Shephard, 41, Greenfield, from an incident in February. Detectives from the GPD served a warrant on and arrested Woolsey on suspicion of dealing drugs that resulted in the death of Shephard late last week.
Officials from the GPD and the Greenfield Fire Territory EMS were dispatched to a home in the 1500 block of Sherwood Drive for a cardiac arrest February 24. When they arrived, they found an unresponsive male, according to a probable cause affidavit.
When officers arrived on scene, a man later identified as Shephard could not be revived despite multiple attempts to save his life, officials said in the report. Officers administered Narcan and performed CPR but, despite all lifesaving measures, Shephard was pronounced dead at the scene.
A witness at the residence, a woman identified as Shephard’s fiancee, told officials Shephard had taken Ecstasy after placing it into a cup of yogurt. Officials noted the woman said Shephard received the drugs from someone he worked with who detectives from the GPD later identified as Woolsey.
According to the affidavit, the woman told officials she and Shephard got into a heated argument as she tried to warn Shephard not to take the drug because it could be laced with fentanyl. The woman stated she wanted nothing to do with Shephard taking the drugs and told him so, the report stated. Evidence located at the scene led GPD detectives to Woolsey, who officials say had been communicating with Shephard via cell phone just prior to his death.
Woolsey was located, officials said, and interviewed Thursday, April 20. During an interview, Woolsey admitted he worked with Shephard for a couple of months as an electrician and was the one who supplied him with the drug.
“I got it for him — one time thing,” Woolsey said in the report. “Joe asked for it.”
Woolsey went on to tell officials he bought the drug from a “friend of a friend,” in Marion County.
As a result of the interview and investigation, Woolsey was arrested and transported to the Hancock County Jail where he remains. Jail records state Woolsey is scheduled to be back in court for a pretrial hearing Wednesday, May 10.
