Man pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter, drug trafficking in Perry County overdose death

The Fredericktown, Mo., man charged with murder after giving a woman a deadly cocktail of prescription drugs in June pleaded guilty to amended involuntary manslaughter and drug trafficking charges Monday.

Steven A. Harbour, 25, was charged with killing Nicole Brown, 20, after he supplied her with oxycodone, clonazepam and amitriptyline during his birthday party at a Perry County motel. Brown's body was found June 25 and Harbour was arrested June 27.

On Monday, he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and distribution of a controlled substance and waived his right to a presentence report. Judge Benjamin Lewis sentenced him to seven years in prison for the manslaughter charge and 12 years for the distribution charge. The sentences will be served concurrently.

"I never intended for this to happen," Harbour told Lewis on Monday.

Harbour's attorney, Patti Tucka, could not be reached for comment and was not present in court Monday because she had broken her wrist.

When first questioned by police, Harbour told officers his drugs were locked up in the hotel room's safe, according to court records. He said he wasn't in the room all the time but his key was in the room, so it was possible someone had gotten to his pills.

Harbour told police that he gave Jones three oxycodone, three clonazepam and three amitriptyline, according to court records. Harbour also told police he bought alcohol that Jones and another underage girl drank.

One witness had said that Harbour was "handing out his pills like they were candy."

In August, Harbour was charged with second-degree murder and distribution charges. The proceedings were moved from Perryville, Mo., to Jackson in November.

Harbour was scheduled to stand trial in June before Monday's plea deal.

psullivan@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

Perryville, MO