Chittester, Joshnick plead guilty to charges related to the death of James Eckert

RIDGWAY - Amanda Holly Chittester, 42, of Johnsonburg, and Tricia Ann Joshnick, 33. of St. Marys, plead guilty to charges related to drug delivery resulting in the death of James Eckert in October of last year.

According to an affidavit of probable cause written by Pennsylvania State Police, Chittester, and Joshnick participated in crimes related to drug delivery resulting in death. A third woman, Maria Lynn Rosenhoover, 24, of Johnsonburg is also charged in relation to Eckert's death, but has yet to enter a plea on the cases against her.

Pennsylvania State Troopers from the Ridgway Barracks were called to a Fox Township home in Elk County on October 21, 2021 for reports of a 29-yearold man who fatally overdosed. Investigators say they identified the man as James Eckert, and they say he was found in the upstairs bathroom surrounded by drug paraphernalia.

According to court documents, the Troopers also found Eckert’s cell phone which contained Facebook messages between him and Joshnick negotiating a heroin deal.

According to the documents, evidence was found on both Joshnick’s and Eckert’s phones that led them to execute a search warrant on Chittester’s home in Johnsonburg. There, they say they found cellphones, cash, and drugs including heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine.

Further investigation led troopers to Rosenhoover, according to the complaint.

After interviewing the three women, troopers say they learned that Eckert wanted to buy $110-worth of heroin/fentanyl from Joshnick. To get the drugs, they say Joshnick gave Rosenhoover a ride to Chittester’s home where Rosenhoover went inside and got the drugs from Chittester.

Roesnhoover then gave the drugs to Joshnick who kept some for herself before giving the rest to Eckert, Troopers allege. Investigators also noted that Joshnick’s 11-year-old daughter was present for the drug deals so Joshnick was also being charged with endangering the welfare of children.

The Elk County Coroner says an autopsy found that Eckert died from “multiple drug intoxication, including methamphetamine, and fentanyl," which is commonly called a "speedball" or "8-ball," in that it contains both stimulants and depressants.

All three women are being detained in the Elk County Prison, according to court documents.

Chittester was the first to accept a plea deal in Elk County Court on Monday and avoid a lengthy and expensive trial. Chittester pled guilty to one count of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled or counterfeit substance, in this case, fentanyl and methamphetamine. She was sentenced to 18-48 months in the State Correctional System and is not eligible for early release under the Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive Program (RRRI) or the State Motivational Boot Camp.

She was also fined $3,000. At the request of James Eckert's family, she was declared eligible for the Pennsylvania Drug Treatment initiative in state prison, which involves treatment and intense rehabilitation.

Joshnick pled guilty to two charges in two separate cases. She pled guilty to one count of drug delivery resulting In death and was sentenced to 60-180 months in state prison. Like Chittester, she is not eligible for early release under the RRRI program or the State Motivational Boot Camp, but at the request of James Eckert's family, she was declared eligible for the Pennsylvania Drug Treatment initiative in state prison, which involves treatment and intense rehabilitation.

Maria Lynn Rosen-hoover is scheduled to go to trial and will be selecting a jury during the July 22 session.