Death linked to heroin leads to charges against Port Angeles man, 18

PORT ANGELES — An 18-year-old Port Angeles man has been charged with controlled substance homicide.

The Clallam County Prosecutor’s Office charged David Zavodny, 18, on Friday with one count of controlled substance homicide after he allegedly provided 17-year-old Maceo Niehaus with a dose of heroin and Niehaus died.

Ann Lundwall, the Clallam County deputy prosecuting attorney assigned to the Zavodny case, has said in past court hearings that she was waiting for the toxicology results from Maceo’s autopsy to decide whether she would charge Zavodny with controlled substance homicide.

She could not be reached for comment Friday.

The homicide charge carries a maximum jail sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of $20,000.

Zavodny remained in the Clallam County jail Friday in lieu of $250,000 bond.

Zavodny will next appear in Clallam County Superior Court for a July 19 status hearing.

The new charge joins one count of maintaining premises for drug trafficking tied to Zavodny’s allegedly giving Maceo heroin May 14 at a home on Ennis Street where Zavodny was staying.

Nearly two months after Port Angeles police and medics found Maceo dead in the Ennis Street home, his grandmother, Ricki Niehaus, still describes his death as “like a train wreck.”

“There’s not a day that goes by that I think about him, wait for him to walk in the door,” Niehaus said, fighting back tears, Friday.

“When you take a young life, it’s really devastating.”

Niehaus said she and Maceo’s mother, Miranda Cedar, are $1,172 away from raising enough money to by a headstone for Maceo, to be installed at his grave at Mount Angeles Memorial Park.

At least 300 family and friends of Maceo attended his May 23 funeral.

A recent Indian taco sale and a later car wash collected just more than $1,100, Niehaus said, adding that there’s another Indian taco fundraiser in the works.

Niehaus said she was supremely grateful to her family, friends and customers — she cuts hair at Ricki’s Little Hair House — for their donations.

“I have amazing customers and friends,” Niehaus said.

“People left and right have really contributed.”

Donations can be given to two separate memorial funds set up to pay for Maceo’s headstone: one at Kitsap Bank, the other at Strait-View Credit Union.

To give to the Kitsap Bank account, phone 360-457-8189 and ask to donate to Maceo’s Memorial Fund.

To donate to the Strait-View Credit Union fund, phone 360-452-3883 and ask for Maceo’s Memorial Fund, which is listed under the name “Miranda Cedar.”

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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.

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