A Santa Barbara man is facing murder and other charges stemming from a drug overdose death that occurred in April in Santa Barbara.

Dillon James Joseph Johnson, 34, was arrested last week and booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail, where he remained Tuesday in lieu of $1 million bail.

This is the first time locally that a suspect has been charged with homicide after allegedly providing drugs to someone who subsequently died of an overdose, District Attorney Joyce Dudley told Noozhawk.

The case began on April 29, when Santa Barbara Police officers were dispatched to the 100 block of State Street after the body of 30-year-old Matthew Justin Dyet was found.

“The deceased 30-year-old male was discovered with narcotics and drug paraphernalia in his possession,” Ragsdale said. “The cause of death was determined to be acute fentanyl intoxication,” said Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale

After a multi-month investigation, detectives identified Johnson as the person who allegedly had provided the fentanyl to the victim, Ragsdale said.

“It is believed that Johnson directly supplied the deadly drug to the decedent that caused his death,” Ragsdale added.

On Sept. 1, investigators served a warrant on the 7100 block of Hollister Avenue in Goleta, where they discovered fentanyl and other narcotics that constituted possession with the intent to distribute, Ragsdale said.

Johnson was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of homicide, several drug-related charges, and an enhancement for causing great bodily injury.

Dudley explained that the murder charge is based on the theory that Johnson knew — or should have known — that providing a dangerous drug such as fentanyl to someone could cause serious injury or death.

She noted that it is similar to the “Watson murder rule” under which people with multiple DUI convictions can be charged with homicide if they are under the influence and cause a vehicle collison that kills someone.

To date, Dudley said, there have been only a few prosecutions of drug dealers for homicide in such cases.

Johnson was scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in Superior Court in Santa Barbara, but the matter was continued until Thursday.

— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.