Charlotte County man arrested after child overdoses on fentanyl

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man after an investigation into the overdose of a minor in his care.

According to the sheriff’s office, they received a 911 call from Scott Honeycutt, 43, on August 28 about a juvenile who was overdosing on an unknown narcotic.

According to the arrest report, Charlotte County Fire and EMS responded to Honeycutt’s home in the area of Ingraham Boulevard & Olsen Street to help with an unresponsive teenager, The exact age of the victim and their relationship to Honeycutt is unknown at this time.

Deputies say when they arrived, Honeycutt and the victim met them at the door. They say the victim appeared pale and lethargic and say Honeycutt told them the victim needed Narcan but did not know what the victim had taken.

The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment.

During an investigation of the home, deputies found a cut straw and a white powdery substance in the victim’s room that tested positive for fentanyl.

According to the arrest report, the victim told investigators that he had taken the drugs from Honeycutt’s work bag that was left on the kitchen counter.

The Department of Children and families also investigated and provided the sheriff’s office with a report that said Honeycutt provided the victim with the drugs to see if he could pass a drug test, but said the victim later changed their story to say they took the drugs without Honeycutt’s permission.

Investigators attempted to locate Honeycutt’s work bag where the drugs were said to be located but couldn’t find it. Body camera video was later reviewed, and it was determined that the bag was on the kitchen table when deputies arrived but had been moved while first responders were tending to the victim.

On September 9, deputies stopped Honeycutt for a stop sign violation. During the stop, he was arrested for charges relating to the overdose investigation. Deputies say they questioned him about the work bag and say Honeycutt told them he had taken it and put it in his car while the victim was being treated.

Deputies found a backpack during a search of his car. Inside, they say they found a box with a clear bottle containing fake urine, which they say is consistent with Honeycutt’s want to pass a drug test and the finding by DCF that he may have used the victim to test if he could pass.

The sheriff’s office took Honeycutt for questioning, and Honeycutt denied knowing what drugs the victim took.

Honeycutt is facing charges of aggravated child abuse for the juvenile’s overdose and tampering with evidence for removing the bag suspected to have drugs from the scene. He has been released on a $12,500 bond.