Late last month a 22-year-old Columbia, Missouri, man was found dead in his home from an apparent heroin overdose. And while it does not seem that anyone forced him to use the drug, the 36-year-old who is being accused of providing the man with the heroin is now facing a felony level drug charge.

The Missouri man was found deceased in his home on Jan. 27. According to police, he had puncture wounds in his wrist and arm, which leads them to believe he died from an overdose. However, the case did not end there, as investigators obtained a warrant to be able to search the deceased 22-year-old's phone records. From there, text messages were found between the man and the 36-year-old.

Two days later, the 36-year-old was arrested in his driveway. Authorities are trying to claim that the text messages were in regards to a drug deal between the two. The 36-year-old was picked up on a felony warrant for distributing a controlled substance. Additionally, if an autopsy confirms that the 22-year-old died from an overdose, the 36-year-old could end up facing even more charges.

Overall, this case highlights the fact that it is possible to end up facing drug crime charges related to another person's decision to use drugs. These charges could also end up leading to quite severe consequences, including jail time and having a permanent criminal record that could get in the way of future employment opportunities.

Because of this, if you are facing drug charges, it is important to have a strong criminal defense on your side.

Source: KRCG, "1 man dead after overdose, another in jail," Mark Slavit, Jan. 27, 2012