The man convicted of first-degree reckless homicide in the death of Sheila Behm will go to prison.
Waupaca County Judge Troy Nielsen sentenced Matthew J. Mead, 37, New London, to four years initial confinement and five years of extended supervision Wednesday, June 19.
Because Mead has been in custody on a $100,000 cash bond since his arrest last year, Nielsen gave him 448 days credit on his prison term.
Shortly before 10:30 a.m. on March 26, an ambulance and law enforcement were dispatched to a home in the town of Farmington.
They found the 50-year-old Behm lying dead on her bed with a cut straw, a piece of aluminum foil and a cellphone beside her.
Deputies also found numerous pill bottles scattered on the cabinet at the foot of the bed, another cut straw, a metal container with powder residue in it, Narcan nasal spray and an empty pill bottle in a purse.
According to the criminal complaint, Behm had a medical condition that caused her significant pain.
When her prescription for pain medication expired, she began buying drugs illegally.
Behm started using heroin about two months before her death.
Mead was accused of taking Behm to his drug dealer in Milwaukee where she purchased the heroin that killed her.
One day after Behm’s death, Mead was arrested after returning from Milwaukee where he bought more heroin.
Risky choices
At sentencing, District Attorney Veronica Isherwood noted the similarity between heroin addiction and drunken driving.
She said an OWI driver risks killing someone every time he drives while intoxicated.
Although neither one intends to kill anybody, the addict’s and the drunk driver’s behavior puts the lives of others at risk.
Nielsen recognized the similarities, but he also noted the difference between a death caused by drunken driving and a death caused by a drug overdose.
Victims of OWI homicides do not choose to be hit by a drunk driver.
Victims of drug overdoses make risky choices.
“Sheila made some decisions that ultimately led to her death,” Nielsen said.
Nielsen said only Mead will be held accountable, but others contributed to Behm’s death.
Behm’s health care providers “drugged her up for years then cut her off” without follow-up or treatment, Nielsen said.
He also pointed to the Milwaukee dealer, his supplier, the heroin manufacturer and pharmaceutical companies that aggressively market opioids.
He said they played a role and bear some responsibility, but will not be held accountable.
Nielsen traced Behm’s and Mead’s life trajectories as they moved toward March 26, 2018.
“Their stories are very similar and sad,” Nielsen said.