MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN FENTANYL DEATH

A San Diego man accused of dealing drugs — including fentanyl-laced pills that looked like legitimate pharmaceuticals — pleaded not guilty Friday to a murder charge in the death of 49year-old woman who died in September.

Joshua Alan Breslow, 52, is charged in the death of La Jolla resident Sally Manchester Ricchiuti, a daughter of developer Doug Manchester.

In addition to murder, Breslow faces several counts of possession of drugs for sale — including fentanyl, cocaine, ecstasy, Oxycontin, and the generic form of Xanax — according to a complaint filed by the District Attorney’s Office.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Laura Halgren set Breslow’s bail at $1 million. If convicted, he could be sent to prison for 25 years to life.

Ricchiuti died on or around Sept. 18, according to the complaint. Her death was investigated as a potential homicide for months, according to the prosecutor handling the case.

Prosecutors added the murder charge this week.

Breslow’s arraignment Friday provided little information about Ricchiuti’s death, but gave a snapshot of the allegations against the defendant.

Deputy District Attorney Joel Madero called Breslow “a prolific drug dealer” in La Jolla and accused him of providing deadly fentanyl to unwitting buyers, including Ricchiuti.

“She thought she was buying legitimate pharmaceuticals, and in fact Mr. Breslow was selling her fentanyl-laced pills,” Madero said.

The prosecutor said authorities searched Breslow’s home after Ricchiuti died and found more than 600 fentanyl pills, 67 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of ecstasy and 42 alprazolam pills.

He was arrested and booked into county jail, but later bailed out. A subsequent search of his home turned up 50 fentanyl and 55 oxycodone pills, the prosecutor said.

Alicia Freeze, one of Breslow’s two attorneys, said after the arraignment that her client and his family are “saddened” by the additional charge, and she noted that her client is a lifelong San Diego resident with no criminal record.

“This is a family man,” Freeze said. “This is devastating to his family.”

Ricchiuti was the daughter of Doug and Betsy Manchester. Doug Manchester is a former owner of The San Diego Union-tribune.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com