Hudson prison inmate accused of causing fatal overdose

A man at the Hudson Correctional Facility is accused of giving fentanyl to another inmate, causing him to fatally overdose.

Eric Sleezer, 42, was charged with criminally negligent homicide.

The investigation began on Jan. 31 when an inmate was found unresponsive in his bed. He died of a drug overdose, according to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

The inmate’s name was not released.

The investigation led to Sleezer’s arrest on Tuesday, Oct. 22, according to DOCCS. He was arraigned in Columbia County Court and returned to prison. He is due back in court on Nov. 15.

The Columbia County District Attorney’s Office helped in the investigation.

Sleezer was sentenced in Fulton County Court in August 2019 to up to 6 years in prison on two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance. He was released in April 2023, according to the state inmate database. He is now being held at Marcy Correctional Facility.