Two win trial delay in fentanyl death of Pacific Beach man

SAN DIEGO Two people who are charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of a Pacific Beach man who overdosed on drugs they sold him won a delay on Sept in their trial It was reset for Feb Micah Rodgers Seau and Sheri Marie Cavanaugh waived their right to have a speedy trial in the death of Connor Gibson Gerhart who overdosed on fentanyl in Seau is the nephew of the late Junior Seau a former sportsman with the San Diego Chargers who died at age in Micah Seau also played Pop Warner football in school with the victim who was a childhood friend Gerhart died on June in his Pacific Beach home He graduated from La Jolla Country Day School The two both appeared before San Diego Superior Court Judge Marian Gaston They are free on bonds posted earlier with the condition that they wear drug patches and a GPS device The trial of Seau and Cavanaugh was set to start on September However the prosecutor reported that it was delayed with the agreement of both defense counsel due to witness unavailability and calendar conflicts Seau and Cavanaugh had initially been charged with murder but a judge who heard the preliminary hearing dismissed the charge and reduced it to involuntary manslaughter The victim s obituary announced Gerhart became addicted to opioids from injuries and surgeries It also warned that an accidental fentanyl overdose is the number one cause of death in the U S for those - years old May his tragic death significantly heighten awareness of this epidemic and serve as a catalyst for families and friends of those suffering from addiction to have the laborious but necessary conversation regarding risks cure and aid the obituary added Both Seau and Cavanaugh have pleaded not guilty