Ex-Angels worker will get 22 years in demise of Tyler Skaggs

FORT WORTH, Texas — A former Los Angeles Angels worker was sentenced to 22 years in federal jail Tuesday for offering Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs the medicine that led to his overdose demise in Texas.

Eric Kay, wearing an orange jumpsuit with handcuffs and leg shackles, did not react when U.S. District Choose Terry R. Means learn his sentence. Kay confronted not less than 20 years in jail on one of many two counts.

There was no response from Skaggs’ widow and mom or members of Kay’s household, together with one in every of his sons who testified on his behalf earlier than sentencing.

After Tuesday’s proceedings, Skaggs’ household launched an announcement.

“We’re very grateful to everybody who labored so onerous to analyze and prosecute Eric Kay. Right this moment’s sentencing is not concerning the variety of years the defendant acquired,” the household mentioned. “The true problem on this case is holding accountable the people who find themselves distributing the lethal drug fentanyl. It’s killing tens of 1000’s of individuals yearly in our nation and destroying households together with it. We’ll proceed the combat to carry accountable those that allowed Kay to supply a lethal drug to Tyler. However for his or her actions, Tyler would nonetheless be with us right this moment.”

Prosecutors offered proof of Kay, 48, making derogatory feedback about Skaggs, his household, prosecutors and jurors in telephone calls and emails after he was convicted in February.

There was emotional testimony from either side in federal courtroom in Fort Value, about 15 miles from the place the Angels have been presupposed to open a four-game sequence in opposition to the Texas Rangers on July 1, 2019, the day Skaggs was discovered lifeless in a suburban Dallas resort room.

Kay was convicted on one rely every of drug distribution leading to demise and drug conspiracy.

A coroner’s report mentioned Skaggs, 27, had choked to demise on his vomit and {that a} poisonous mixture of alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone was in his system.

The trial included testimony from 5 main league gamers who mentioned they acquired oxycodone drugs from Kay at numerous occasions from 2017-19, the years Kay was accused of acquiring drugs and giving them to gamers at Angel Stadium. Kay additionally used medicine himself, in keeping with testimony and courtroom paperwork.

Data from The Related Press was used on this report.