A Butler Township man who was charged in relation to a fatal overdose in 2016 pleaded guilty to drug distribution charges in Butler County Court on Thursday.

Eugene J. Smith III, 48, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance — heroin, before Judge Timothy McCune.

The plea agreement calls for a sentence of 15 to 30 months in state prison on each charge, bringing the total amount of state prison time to 2½ to 5 years, followed by probation, restitution, fines, community service and court costs.

Smith is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 11.

Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon said the plea agreement is a result of Smith “cooperating in the investigation and his truthful testimony to the (federal) grand jury.”

The charges stem from incidents on Sept. 3, 2016; Sept. 8, 2016; and in Adams Township on Sept. 8, 2016, following the death of 24-year-old Elizabeth Arblaster of Brady Township.

Toxicology results found that Arblaster died Sept. 3, 2016, of fentanyl and heroin toxicity. She had nine times the lethal level of fentanyl in her system when she was found dead.

Police said Smith had sold Arblaster stamp bags containing the highly toxic combination on Sept. 2, 2016.