By Gina Yarbrough
Riverside, CA–A Winchester man has been sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison for the second-degree murder of a 30-year-old man who died of fentanyl poisoning, Riverside County prosecutors said.
Quinn Aaron McKellips, 39, was convicted of supplying a lethal dose of fentanyl to Calin Sender in January 2020. Prosecutors said evidence presented at trial showed McKellips sold various narcotics to Sender over several months.
“The sale of fentanyl and the actions that lead to the death of another person have devastating, far-reaching impacts,” District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in a statement. “These crimes shatter families and communities, and we will continue to hold those responsible with full accountability here in Riverside County.”
The court denied probation, citing McKellips’ prior narcotics-sales convictions and finding he posed a danger to the public if released. He must serve 15 years before becoming eligible for parole. Restitution will be determined by the probation department.
Several members of Sender’s family delivered victim impact statements during the hearing, including his cousin, Jessica Chapple.
“Calin didn’t die by accident. He died because someone decided that money was worth more than a human life,” Chapple said.
Prosecutors said defendants in similar fentanyl-related homicide cases have often accepted plea deals before trial, leading to multiple convictions. McKellips’ case marks only the second fentanyl-related murder conviction by jury trial in Riverside County and one of fewer than 10 statewide.
