LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Lucerne man has been ordered to stand trial for homicide in the death of a teenage girl authorities said overdosed on fentanyl he supplied to her.

Following a preliminary hearing last week, Judge J. David Markham ordered Joe Nathan Boggs Jr., 27, to stand trial for the Nov. 10 death of 17-year-old Illeanna Makena Frease.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Rich Watson said Boggs is charged with second degree murder, under a theory of implied malice.

Boggs also is charged with possession for sale of a controlled substance, transportation of a controlled substance for sale and furnishing a controlled substance to a minor. An allegation of great bodily injury was dismissed.

Boggs has remained in custody since his June arrest, with bail remaining at $1 million.

More information continues to be developed in the case.

“It’s still considered an ongoing investigation,” said Det. Jeff Mora of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Mora said they are still encouraging people to come forward if they have information about the case.

Watson said there was a family relationship between Frease and Boggs, but the precise nature of it did not come out at the preliminary hearing.

Frease referred to Boggs as “uncle” and he called her “cousin,” and it’s believed they and other family members were living in the same home in Lucerne, Watson said.

Based on testimony at the preliminary hearing, Watson said Boggs supplied Frease with pills on Nov. 9 after she contacted him through Instagram to ask for them two days earlier. She is believed to have met up with other people to supply them with those pills the same day she received them from Boggs.

Then, early on Nov. 10, she contacted Boggs again seeking drugs, Watson said.

He met her and provided the drugs, and she returned home and was seen taking them. Watson said she died later that morning.

Boggs will return to court for arraignment on Aug. 6, at which time it’s expected that a future trial date may be set.

This is the first case involving charges for homicide for a fentanyl overdose.

However, it isn’t expected to be the last.

“Our Major Crimes Unit does intend on working backwards and locating other cases,” Mora said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.