Dillon Johnson, of Santa Barbara, pleaded guilty on August 19 to involuntary manslaughter, with special allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury or death, in connection with the fentanyl-induced overdose of 30-year-old Matthew Dyet on April 29, 2022, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The case marked the first time anyone was charged with murder in connection with a fentanyl overdose in Santa Barbara County.
While Johnson, 37, was not found guilty of murder, he pleaded guilty to multiple fentanyl and methamphetamine-related charges in addition to involuntary manslaughter. This case was the second time a defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter for a fentanyl overdose in the county, the first being a co-defendant case in 2023, the DA’s Office said…