A Gastonia woman, 35-year-old Victoria Elizabeth Prince, will spend four to six years in prison after she pleaded guilty to death by distribution in the death of Jennifer Nicole Messer, who died from a drug overdose. Prince had originally been charged with second degree murder in the case.

Messer, who was 36, was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene after Gaston County Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Reynolds Drive off Hickory Grove Road north of McAdenvilleon Feb. 5th. Prince sold heroin to Messer before her death. Autopsy and toxicology reports from the North Carolina Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Messer died from an overdose of illegal drugs.

Also charged with conspiracy to sell/deliver heroin in the case was Gary Louis Hampton, 34, of 5924 Crawford Road, Gastonia.

Following her guilty plea, Judge David Phillips sentenced Prince to 4 - 6 years in prison.