Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - A former Rochester man has been convicted of murder in a drug overdose case.

The third-degree drug-related murder charge was filed about a year ago against 54-year-old Darnell McDaniels. He was accused of selling heroin to a 35-year-old man who died at a Rochester halfway house in January 2015.

McDaniels decided to forego a jury trial and instead take his chances with a judge. His case was tried before Olmsted County Judge Kathy Wallace last month. She considered the evidence for about a week and issued her guilty verdict Wednesday. Such verdicts were rare in Minnesota years ago until state law was changed due to the growing number of fatal overdoses.

No sentencing date has been scheduled yet for McDaniels, who currently lists a Rush City address.

At the time of his arrest, Rochester police said they suspected McDaniels had been selling heroin to other people who suffered non-lethal overdoses.

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