Upper Darby woman faces new charges in fentanyl case
UPPER DARBY » The mother of a kindergarten student accused of dropping fentanyl in the parking lot of St. Bernadette of Lourdes Catholic Grade School while she was picking up her 5-year-old son earlier this month appeared Tuesday morning in district court, where she waived a preliminary hearing and conditions including drug/alcohol evaluations were added to her unsecured bail.
The criminal complaint against Dollinda Williams, 29, of the 1700 block of Edgewood Street, was also amended to include a charge of recklessly endangering another person at the proceeding before Magisterial District Judge Robert J. Radano. Initially charged with possession of a controlled substance, use/possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of children, she waived on all four misdemeanor offenses, defense attorney Illon Ross Fish said Tuesday afternoon.
While Williams remains free on $25,000 unsecured bail, the following bail conditions were imposed by Radano during the proceeding, according to a district court clerk:
• Prohibited property
• Must undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation, comply with all recommendations and provide documentation
• Must comply with any and all recommendations of the Children and Youth Services from school of Delaware County
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said investigators wanted bail changed to a secured amount against Williams, whom he noted the investigation revealed is a practical nurse, licensed under the name Dollinda Daye.
“My feeling is from the getgo that bail should have been set,” Chitwood said Tuesday afternoon. “To free somebody on unsecured bail with this drug, fentanyl, is ridiculous. It’s a disgrace.”
Fish, in a phone interview after the court proceeding, said, “I know the facts sound horrific, and it’s an effect of a bigger societal problem … It should not be a punishment here. If there is an issue, we should be looking to help … rather than looking for blood.”
Williams is a mother who has never been in trouble, according to her attorney.
“She is a real sweet, sweet girl,” Fish said.
Williams surrendered Sept. 12 on the initial charges. Five days prior, on Sept. 7, township police were called to the school on Turner Avenue after a parent of a kindergarten student noticed a baggie on the ground, picked it up suspecting it could be drugs and reported it to a faculty member. The recovered baggie contained 41 packets. Of those, 29 were full, and 12 were empty but contained residue. Two of the 29 full packets field-tested positive for fentanyl.
At the time he announced Williams’ arrest, Chitwood said investigators had learned that after the drugs were recovered, a woman returned to the school parking lot and when confronted by school authorities, said she was looking for money.
With that information, Chitwood said investigators returned to school the next day and waited for the woman, identified as Williams. He said she apparently parked a block away from the school to avoid the routine drop-off loop, and walked her son to the school.
When confronted by township police Sgt. Timothy Bernhardt and Detective Edward Silberstein, “She admitted the drugs were hers,” Chitwood said.
Fish declined Tuesday to address any specifics about the case, including if his client was aware the packets contained fentanyl. He also declined to discuss CYS involvement. “CYS is involved regarding the custody of the child,” Bernhardt said Tuesday.
Generally speaking, Fish said he is in contact with narcotics officers and has been told that dealers are selling fentanyl to customers who believe they are buying heroin.
“This is relayed to me by experts,” Fish said. “It’s sad.”
According to the Pennsylvania Department of State Professional Licensing, Dollinda Ashley Daye has an active practical nurse license, which was issued in December, 2015, and expires in June, 2018. The license was last renewed May 2, 2016.
Daye, according to Bernhardt, is the defendant’s maiden name.