Fentanyl is now the #1 killer of 18-45 year olds, surpassing car accidents and suicides. In Placer County, we saw a 450% increase in fentanyl deaths from 2019-2021. Since taking office in 2020, Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire has made the fighting fentanyl crisis one his priorities for the office. 

From participating in the  “1 pill can kill Placer” campaign, to pushing public service announcements, to aggressive prosecution, to working on statewide legislation, Placer County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to fighting the fentanyl issue in the county.

“Placer County has been tragically affected by the national fentanyl epidemic.  We are committed to combating this crisis with continued education and awareness efforts, extensive prevention campaigns, and aggressive prosecution of those who seek to peddle this deadly drug in our community.”  — Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire

Filing murder complaints against alleged fentanyl dealers

The Placer County District Attorney’s Office filed five criminal complaints against fentanyl dealers whose sales resulted in a death. 

1) 22-year-old Virgil Bordner was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the death of local teen Zachary Didier. He is currently serving a 17 year sentence in CDCR. Learn more Sacramento man receives 17 years in pris

2) 20-year-old Carson David Schewe is currently charged with murder and possession of a controlled substance for sale, as it related to a local fentanyl-related death. ***This is the first time a defendant in Placer County has been charged with murder by jury for a fentanyl-related death.*** Learn more Placer County District Attorneys Office 

3)  20-year-old Nathaniel Cabacungan is charged of murder for a death of a 15-year old girl. Learn more Placer DA files second murder charge aga – UPDATE – Cabacungan was convicted of murder on Oct. 10, 2023 – the first fentanyl murder conviction in the state. 

4) The Placer County District Attorney’s Office amended the criminal complaint against 24-year-old Arron Dare to add the charge of murder, as it relates to a local Auburn area fentanyl death. Learn more Placer DA files murder charge against Fa

5) The Placer County District Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against 42-year-old Brandon Garner, as it relates to a local fentanyl death. Learn more

6) In August 2024,  the Placer County District Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against  34-year-old James Teahan, as it relates to a local fentanyl death. Learn more

“Fentanyl is one of the most critical and frightening issues affecting our communities,” said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire. “The lethality of this synthetic drug, coupled with the blatant deceit by the dealers and the rapid spike in poisonings over the last few years, is both terrifying and heartbreaking. This epidemic is advanced, swift, and fatal – four in ten pills purchased in the online marketplace are deadly. We must continue to educate the community through the One Pill Can Kill campaign and we will continue to pursue these dealers aggressively and hold them accountable to the full extent of the law.”

PLACER COUNTY DA WARNING TO DEALERS

Selling fentanyl, if it results in a death, may result in a murder charge in our county. We have a simple message to dealers and distributers in our region – Placer County is NOT open for their business.