Democratic donor and LGBTQ activist Ed Buck was arrested in Los Angeles and charged with drug crimes after a third man overdosed on methamphetamine at his home, NPR reports.
Buck was arrested Tuesday and charged with battery causing serious injury, administering methamphetamine, and running a drug house.
Buck, 65, faces up to five years and eight months in prison if convicted of all charges.
Buck was arrested after police said he injected a 37-year-old man with meth on September 11.
The man overdosed but survived.
Two men died at Buck’s home:
The arrest comes after months of activists calling for Buck to be charged in the suspicious deaths of 26-year-old Gemmel Moore in 2017 and 55-year-old Timothy Michael Dean in January. Both men died of drug overdoses at his hoe.
“Advocates for Moore and Dean have long accused Buck of being a sexual predator who lured gay, at-risk black men to his home in West Hollywood,” NPR reported. “Buck is alleged to have pressured men to do drugs, particularly crystal meth.”
Moore wrote in a journal entry, “I honestly don't know what to do. I've become addicted to drugs and the worst one at that. Ed Buck is the one to thank.”
Prosecutors declined to file charges:
Prosecutors opted not to file charges against Buck in Moore’s death. Earlier this year, Moore’s mother LaTisha Nixon filed a wrongful death suit against Buck and county officials, arguing that Dean’s death could have been prevented if Buck had been charged.
Buck’s attorney denied that he caused Dean’s death.
"This is not a situation where Mr. Buck has caused a death," the lawyer said. "This is a situation where Mr. Buck has had longtime friends who unfortunately do not handle their life well."
Prosecutors have asked for Buck’s bail to be set at $4 million.
"I remain deeply concerned for the safety of people whose life circumstances may make them more vulnerable to criminal predators," Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said.
