Man sentenced to 26 years for dealing fentanyl that killed woman in recovery

DENVER (KDVR) — A man was sentenced to 26 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections Wednesday for dealing fentanyl that killed a woman who was in recovery last April.

This is the first time a drug dealer has been successfully prosecuted by the First Judicial District Attorney since a law holding dealers accountable in cases of drug-related deaths was signed in May 2022.

Earlier this year, Brock Troy Nieuwendorp, 38, pleaded guilty to distribution resulting in death and faced eight to 32 years in prison as a result.

According to a release from the DA’s office, Lakewood police agents found text messages and Cash App records showing that Nieuwendorp sold small amounts of fentanyl to 25-year-old Catherine Hackim on several occasions in early 2023.

Those sales included one on April 29 when she was found dead on the couch due to combined drug intoxication, according to the autopsy report released in May .

Hackim was reportedly recovering from addiction, and the fentanyl mixed with her prescription for opiate withdrawal symptoms was a deadly combination.

Supporters speak out for victim and dealer

In a statement to the court that was released by the DA’s office, Hackim’s mother said her death came as a shock because she was in active recovery, had fallen in love, got a job and was pursuing a neuroscience degree.

“She experienced a mix of successes and failures, as many in recovery do, but she continued to fight her way forward,” Hackim’s mother said.

Prosecutors fought for the maximum sentence, noting that Nieuwendorp had 10 prior felony convictions and repeatedly failed community-based supervision. Most recently, Nieuwendorp was arrested in Denver on counts of possession of drugs and a firearm, months after Hackim’s death.

Nieuwendorp’s support group said his addiction began with a knee injury and an Oxycontin prescription.

“My heart hurts so deeply for my victim and her family,” Nieuwendorp said, according to the release.

Prosecutors argued that, unlike Nieuwendorp, Hackim “never fed her addiction by selling drugs; instead, her involvement in the recovery community made her a beacon of hope, serving as a role model to others who struggled as she did.”

When it came to sentencing, District Court Judge Christopher Zenisek noted the distinction between suffering from addiction versus engaging in actions that actively harm others.

“Where does the addiction end, and the responsibility begin? Part of the answer is when people get hurt, and definitely when people die,” he said, according to the release.

Hackim’s family said they hope her case serves as a deterrent for people considering dealing or using fentanyl.

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