Marin Fentanyl Murder Accused Pleads Guilty

A man accused of supplying fentanyl that killed a companion has pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge in Marin County Superior Court.

Callen Scheffler, 34, of Santa Rosa, also pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of selling or transporting a controlled substance and violating the terms of his probation. He was placed on probation last year in a drug case in Sonoma County, according to court records.

Under his plea agreement, Scheffler will serve his sentence in the Marin County Jail instead of the state prison, his attorney, Jon Rankin, said after the hearing. Additionally, the charge of serious bodily injury was dropped as part of the plea agreement.

“He will be able to rebuild his life after serving his prison sentence,” Rankin said.

Judge Kelly Simmons scheduled Scheffler’s sentencing for Nov. 12. She told Scheffler he faced between four and six years in prison.

The case centers on the death of Cloverdale resident Samantha Azzolino on August 26, 2023. That night, she and her friend traveled with Scheffler to San Francisco, where the defendant purchased cocaine and synthetic opioid fentanyl, according to a prosecution affidavit. Later, when they had medical emergencies, he drove them to Novato Community Hospital.

Scheffler told hospital staff that one of his passengers was having a seizure while the other could not wake up, Assistant District Attorney Sean Kensinger wrote in the affidavit. Kensinger reported that Scheffler left the hospital after Azzolino was pronounced dead and the surviving victim was placed in a medically induced coma.

Novato police contacted Scheffler that night, searched him and discovered drug paraphernalia and a baggie containing a powdered substance known to be fentanyl, Kensinger wrote. Scheffler admitted to using fentanyl earlier in the day, according to the affidavit. Officers initially arrested him for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

A pathologist concluded Azzolino died from a combination of cocaine and fentanyl, according to the affidavit.

Marin County sheriff’s investigators arrested Scheffler in February. He was released on bail.

On Monday, Scheffler waived his rights to a preliminary hearing and jury trial in addition to changing his plea.

“I am pleased that he took responsibility from the beginning and we look forward to his sentencing,” Kensinger said after the hearing.