Man accused in teen’s overdose

Donald James "DJ" Jacobson was a wrestler at Centennial High School with dreams of becoming a firefighter and Ultimate Fighting champ. His family described him as an all-American 16-year-old who advised friends not to drink, smoke or take drugs.

But Jacobson didn't follow his own advice. Authorities said he died of an accidental overdose of hydrocodone, a painkiller, on April 12.

The 24-year-old man accused of providing Jacobson with the prescription drugs is behind bars facing a second-degree murder charge. Authorities allege Neal Hussey gave Jacobson more than 160 pills, including 32 hydrocodone pills, and contributed to his death.

Under Nevada law, if someone dies from drugs they receive illegally from a dealer, the seller can be charged with murder.

In March, a Clark County jury convicted a local doctor, Harriston Bass, of second-degree murder for illegally prescribing painkillers to a patient who later overdosed and died. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Conrad Claud, Hussey's attorney, said his client has no criminal history, is married and is the father of a young child.

"We're looking forward to exonerating Neal," he said Monday in District Court.

A Las Vegas Justice of the Peace on Monday set Neal's preliminary hearing for July 7.

Jacobson's family members, who also attended court Monday, said Hussey isn't innocent.

They described him as a careless man who provided drugs to their trusting son.

Jacobson's stepmother, Elizabeth Jacobson, said she hopes other teens will realize the dangers of prescription drugs.

"He tried something, and it killed him. There are so many kids out there who try that stuff every day, and they're still alive. They don't know that they might not have that choice or that option later," she said.

Jacobson and Hussey were friends and co-workers at a tire store. Family members and authorities said Jacobson looked up to Hussey and started experimenting with prescription drugs while working at the store.

A friend who worked with Jacobson told Las Vegas police that he saw Hussey and Jacobson crush up the prescription drug Oxycontin and snort it while at work, according to a Las Vegas police report.

Jacobson was at Hussey's house for a barbecue the night before he died.

The report said that Jacobson was not known to be an experienced drinker and even passed out after drinking small quantities of beer.

But the night before he died, Jacobson and Hussey each had a shot of Jagermeister and a can of beer, the report said. Jacobson spent the night and was found dead the next morning. The autopsy result showed that he had prescription drugs in his system.

Hussey told police that he did not see Jacobson take any drugs that night, the report said.

Elizabeth Jacobson said she and her family are devastated by the events. She said her 4-year-old son continues to ask when Jacobson is going to come home.

"Instead of going to the junior prom with his friends, we buried him," she said.

Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.