Democratic megadonor Ed Buck arrested after third man overdoses at his California home

Democratic megadonor Ed Buck is facing felony charges after a third man overdosed on methamphetamine police say Buck injected him with.

Buck, 65, was charged with operating a drug house and three counts of battery. Although the man who recently overdosed survived, the first two men both died, 18 months apart, inside Buck’s West Hollywood home. Buck was not charged in either of their deaths.

Court documents say that Buck used his money and power to manipulate victims into fulfilling his sexual fetishes, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“These fetishes include supplying and personally administering dangerously large doses of narcotics to his victims,” prosecuting attorneys wrote.

In July 2017, 26-year-old Gemmel Moore, who was homeless and working as a prostitute, fatally overdosed. Moore wrote in his journal that he blamed Buck for his spiraling drug addiction.

“I’ve become addicted to drugs and the worst one at that,” Moore reportedly wrote. “Ed Buck is the one to thank, he gave me my first injection of chrystal meth.”

In January, 55-year-old Timothy Dean was found dead in Buck’s home. Buck’s attorney, Seymour Amster said at the time that the man ingested drugs before coming to the megadonor’s residence.

Buck allegedly waited 15 minutes before calling paramedics after Dean died, according to an autopsy report. Although, Amster disputes that claim and said Buck was in another room taking a shower when Dean fell unconscious.

“From what I know, it was an old friend who died of an accidental overdose, and unfortunately, we believe that the substance was ingested at some place other than the apartment,” Amster said.

Dean's sister, Joyce Jackson, claimed Buck was a predator after her brother's death.

"I really believe he preyed on people. I think he’s sick. He really needs to get some help," she said.

Prosecutors touched on the two deaths in court documents, writing, “Not deterred by the senseless deaths of Moore and Dean, [Buck] nearly killed a third victim last week.”

In the motion requesting bail be set at $4 million, prosecutors called Buck “a violent, dangerous sexual predator” who “mainly preys on men made vulnerable by addiction and homelessness.”

Buck has supported a number of Democratic candidates, including former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and has donated more than $500,000 to different Democratic candidates and causes.

If convicted of the charges, Buck could face more than five years in state prison.