JONESBORO, Ark. — A Jonesboro man accused of selling drugs involved in a fatal overdose was sentenced to 15 years in prison after reaching a plea agreement that reduced his charge to manslaughter.
Randy Joe Coaker, 40, entered a guilty plea on August 3 in Craighead County Circuit Court, as part of a negotiation with prosecutors that dropped more severe charges. Circuit Judge Scott Ellington accepted the agreement, which included a 15-year prison term with an additional five years suspended, court records show. Coaker was credited with 876 days already served in custody.
The case stems from the March 5, 2024, death of Tracy Marlar, who was found unresponsive in the passenger seat of her vehicle near West Monroe Avenue in Jonesboro. According to a probable cause affidavit, investigators observed no external injuries but noted evidence consistent with an overdose, including froth around her mouth.
Marlar’s cellphone records and witness statements connected Coaker to the case. Authorities allege that Marlar purchased counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl from Coaker shortly before her death. The affidavit indicates Marlar sent Coaker $400 via Cash App to buy hydrocodone, but Coaker informed her he had the "M30" pills instead. Text messages reportedly showed Coaker warned Marlar about the potency of the pills, describing them as "pure."
Witnesses told police Marlar began overdosing while riding in Coaker’s vehicle. One witness alleged that as Marlar became unresponsive, Coaker placed her upright in the passenger seat and later returned to his apartment instead of calling for help. Another individual reportedly drove Marlar’s vehicle back to the West Monroe location, where Coaker alerted police roughly two hours later.
Coaker also admitted to selling Marlar six counterfeit pills, the affidavit states, and allegedly disposed of additional pills found in her purse before alerting law enforcement. A drug test conducted by the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory confirmed the presence of fentanyl in Marlar’s system, as well as prescribed benzodiazepines.
Coaker initially faced an unclassified felony charge of aggravated death by delivery, which carried a potential sentence of 20 years to life in prison. Under the plea agreement, that charge was reduced to manslaughter, a Class B felony, and two related charges — delivery of fentanyl and illegal use of a communication device — were dropped. The negotiated sentence exceeds the state’s presumptive range of six to 12 years for manslaughter but aligns with the terms agreed upon by the state and Coaker’s defense attorney, Aarika Thompson.
Deputy Prosecutor Jessica Thomason represented the state in the case. Efforts to reach Prosecuting Attorney Sonia Hagood for comment were not immediately successful.
Coaker's sentence will be served in the Arkansas Division of Correction.