11/30/12 - A Detroit man accused of supplying the heroin that led to the death of a Brighton Township woman has entered a plea to a lesser charge. 26-year-old Donald Watts Jr. pleaded no contest to an added charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of 20-year-old Kimberly Schanta, whose body was found on October 13th, 2011 inside of her Hilton Road residence. Watts was originally charged with delivery of a controlled substance causing death in Livingston County Circuit Court. That charge was dropped as part of the deal, along with his four-time habitual offender status although his previous violations were stated on the record. Prosecutors agreed to recommend a prison term of 29 months to 15 years when he is sentenced by Judge Michael Hatty on January 3rd. If that is not granted, Watts will be allowed to withdraw his plea. The prosecutionâs key witness testified previously that he purchased heroin from a person named "Black" at a home in Detroit and that Schanta did the same. Although authorities identified that person as Watts, his attorney argued the witness did not actually see Schanta receive the heroin and thus the drugs that killed her could have come from somewhere else. (JM)
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