Paul Auster's son, Daniel Auster, has been charged with manslaughter and manslaughter in connection with the death of his 10-month-old daughter.
According to the medical examiner, Daniel Auster's daughter Ruby died in November as a result of "acute poisoning" with fentanyl and heroin, the New York police said on Sunday.
According to media reports, Auster was arrested on Friday evening and officially charged by the district attorney's office.
The forty-four-year-old was taking care of his little daughter in his apartment in Brooklyn, New York, when she was found unconscious there on November 1st.
The child died shortly afterwards in hospital.
Daniel Auster has had problems with the criminal justice system in the past.
After the 1996 murder of suspected drug dealer Andre "Angel" Melendez, Auster admitted to being in possession of $3,000 stolen by Melendez.
Auster was given a suspended sentence at the time.
His roommate at the time, Robert Riggs, and another suspect, Michael Alig, confessed to killing Melendez.
Paul Auster is one of the most successful writers in the USA.
He achieved international fame with his "New York Trilogy" and the novel "Leviathan".