photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

Terriana Atkinson appears at her plea hearing on July 24, 2024, in Douglas County District Court. Atkinson pleaded no contest to distributing fentanyl.

A Lawrence woman who was charged in connection with a man’s 2022 fentanyl overdose death pleaded no contest to a lesser charge on Wednesday in Douglas County District Court.

Terriana Audry Atkinson, 26, of Lawrence, was originally charged with one count of distributing a substance causing death, according to charging documents. However, as part of her plea agreement with the state, the charge was reduced to a lower-level drug felony, distribution of a controlled substance.

Judge Sally Pokorny accepted Atkinson’s plea and ordered her to appear for sentencing on Sept. 20.

Atkinson’s original charge was a level-one felony that could have resulted in a minimum sentence of just over 12 years if she had been convicted of it. But under the reduced charge, Atkinson may be sentenced to either probation or between 14 and 16 months in prison. Pokorny said that if she were to grant Atkinson probation, it would be for a term of 18 months in accordance with state law.

Pokorny also ordered Atkinson to register as a drug offender with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for 15 years.

Atkinson was charged in connection with the death of Cameron Bricker, 26, of Lawrence. Bricker was found dead on Dec. 9, 2022, at his apartment at 1401 E. 24th St. According to his autopsy, Bricker died of fentanyl and ethanol intoxication, as the Journal-World reported.

In an arrest affidavit, police said they identified Atkinson as the suspected seller after connecting her to the accounts Bricker was communicating with to purchase the pills that were believed to have killed him. Allegations contained in affidavits have not been proved in court.

Atkinson has been free on a $100,000 bond since shortly after her arrest in November 2023.