Bellingham man sentenced to two years behind bars for involvement in fatal 2023 overdose
A 55-year-old Bellingham man was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday in Whatcom County Superior Court in relation to the overdose death of Agustin Gallardo, 34, in March 2023.
Brian T. Christensen was charged with three felonies following Gallardo’s death, including first-degree manslaughter. Gallardo died of an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to the Whatcom County medical examiner.
Court documents show that Christensen sold what was supposed to be cocaine to Gallardo on March 29, 2023. Gallardo’s girlfriend told police that she saw Gallardo snorting a line of a substance on the other side of the couch and overheard Christensen mention fentanyl.
Gallardo collapsed soon afterward, and Christensen gave him multiple doses of the overdose-reversing drug Narcan to revive him. Christensen got the Narcan from a neighbor, who helped revive Gallardo. The neighbor said Christensen told her he accidentally gave Gallardo fentanyl instead of cocaine.
Gallardo was found dead by his family on March 31. Gallardo’s mother said at Christensen’s sentencing that the memory of finding her son is still with her. She held up a photo of her son on Zoom.
“I want to ask that man why he took my son’s life,” she said through an interpreter.
Christensen’s attorney said Tuesday that Christensen was addicted to fentanyl at the time of Gallardo’s death, and that his giving Gallardo fentanyl was “completely accidental.”
Christensen said he was “terribly saddened” to hear Gallardo died.
“I would like to tell you how deeply sorry I am for your loss,” he told Gallardo’s relatives, including his sisters, who attended his sentencing virtually and in-person. Some loved ones in the courtroom wore memorial shirts with Gallardo’s picture on them.
Because of concerns from prosecutors about proceeding to trial, Christensen’s charges were amended to the unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. He pleaded guilty Jan. 23 to intentionally selling meth to Gallardo.
Judge Evan Jones said the state had negotiated a resolution to a “very difficult case.” He followed the recommendations and sentenced Christensen to two years behind bars followed by one year in community custody. The sentencing was met with anger from some of Gallardo’s loved ones.
“You can’t take those things back,” Jones said. “This family will live with the consequences of your decision for the rest of their lives.”
This story was originally published February 12, 2025 at 10:46 AM.