Fentanyl-related homicide conviction in Madera County

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The District Attorney's Office in Madera County made history this month after prosecutors successfully secured the first ever fentanyl-related homicide conviction in the County.

"This is the first time that we're able to do the same things those bigger counties do," said Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno. "The first time the facts line up for us to send this guy to 11 years to prison."

In April of 2021, now convicted drug dealer, Jenisis Knapp admitted to selling heroin laced with fentanyl to 34-year-old Robert John Fant in Chowchilla. When Fant ingested the drug, he overdosed and died.

"This defendant, after the death of Mr. Fant, bragged he was still selling fentanyl-laced heroin, and he bragged that his was the best stuff," said Attorney Moreno.

The District Attorney said the defendant in this case knew his victim.

"They were friends, so he was dealing to his friends and everyone else," said Attorney Moreno.

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Prosecutors now using that same momentum from larger jurisdictions throughout the state to prosecute similar cases in Madera County.

"Not long ago, down in the south land, they started prosecuting fentanyl dealers for murder under the theory that knew how dangerous this was and they did it anyway, said Attorney Moreno.

In October of 2023, 21-year-old Nathaniel Cabacungan became the first person in California to be convicted and sentenced for murder in a fentanyl death. Investigators say the Roseville man supplied a 15-year-old girl with counterfeit Oxycodone pills that led to her death in June of 2022.

For the last year, the District Attorney has worked in tandem with the Madera Police Department and the Madera Narcotics Enforcement Team.

"We finally came up with a case where we could prove that the defendant in this case, Jenisis Knapp, knew how dangerous his conduct was and did it anyway and it lead to the death of Mr. Fant," said Attorney Moreno.

Her message to drug dealers thinking twice about selling fentanyl on the streets of Madera County is simple:

"If we can prove it, we're coming after them with everything we've got."

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