Lakewood Man Pleads 'Not Guilty' To Manslaughter Charge In Initial Court Appearance

A 29-year-old Lakewood man pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter, corrupting another with drugs, tampering with evidence and drug possession during his initial appearance Monday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

Donald Lanum is accused of accidentally killing a 44-year-old man with a lethal injection of heroin last month.

According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s office, Lanum injected heroin into the arm of Freddie Fordyce while at a Halstead Avenue apartment on Jan. 23.

An acquaintance of Fordyce found him lying on the couch without a pulse. 

Lakewood Police arrested Lanum on Jan. 24. He’s been held in the Cuyahoga County jail since; his bond was set at $100,000 on Jan. 28 and continued Monday.

His next court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

According to Lakewood Municipal Court records, Lanum was found guilty of misdemeanor charges of possessing drug paraphernalia and a hypodermic needle in June 2011.