An Ingleside man pleaded not guilty Thursday to a charge of drug-induced homicide in the death of a 21-year-old Spring Grove woman.
Jacob Mazzuca, 21, was arrested in February and charged with drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony. He also is charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, a Class 2 felony, in connection with the death of Cristina Villasana on Nov. 11 of last year.
Mazzuca appeared in court before Judge Joseph Salvi, who said Mazucca could face six to 30 years in prison if convicted of drug-induced homicide and three to seven years if convicted of the second felony.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Ben Dillon said the state has also filed a motion to revoke Mazzuca’s probation for a 2013 conviction for unlawful possession of a controlled substance, claiming that the new charges show he was not in compliance with probation conditions.
If the petition to revoke is granted, Salvi said Mazzuca could be resentenced to up to five years in prison on the 2013 charge.
Mazzuca is being held in Lake County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Mazzuca provided a controlled substance known as “SASS” to Villasana, who ingested it and later died at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan. Officials said SASS is a form of the drug known as MDMA or ecstasy.
Villasana was admitted to the Vista Emergency Center in Lindenhurst at approximately 2 a.m. Nov. 11, 2014, and then transferred to Vista Medical Center East, where she was pronounced dead at 7:52 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office.
According to reports, sheriff’s investigators were notified of the incident by the Round Lake Heights Police Department at 6:15 p.m. Nov. 11, and immediately began witness interviews.
As a result of those interviews, it is believed that Villasana ingested the drug at around 10:30 p.m. the night before.
Mazzuca is being represented by defense attorney Gregory Nikitas, who had no comment on the case after the arraignment.
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