Trial begins in fatal drug overdose case
Jury selection is underway for a man charged in the overdose death of a woman in a Pottstown apartment.
NORRISTOWN » Jury selection has begun for the trial of a former Pottstown man who is accused of delivering a fatal dose of fentanyl to a borough woman.
The selection process began Tuesday afternoon but no jurors were seated for the trial of Harold Robert Burton, 38, formerly of the 400 block of Spruce Street, who faces charges of drug delivery resulting in death, recklessly endangering another person, criminal use of a communication facility and possession with intent to deliver fentanyl in connection with the January 2016 overdose death of Renee Winslow of Pottstown.
Montgomery County Judge Steven T. O’Neill is seeking a panel of 12 jurors and two alternate jurors for the trial that is expected to last several days. A new pool of potential jurors will be summoned to the courthouse on Wednesday as the selection process continues.
The jury might hear opening statements from Assistant District Attorney Kelly Lloyd and defense lawyer Carrie L. Allman on Wednesday afternoon.
Burton, whose most recent address was along West Ellet Street in Philadelphia, will remain in the county jail without bail during the trial. It hasn’t been revealed if Burton, who also once resided in the 100 block of North Adams Street in Pottstown, will testify during the trial.
A conviction of drug delivery resulting in death
carries a possible maximum sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison.
Before jury selection began on Tuesday, O’Neill made several pretrial rulings. The judge ruled prosecutors can present to the jury alleged incriminating prison phone conversations that Burton had with others while housed at the county jail after his June 2016 arrest. Those conversations were legally recorded.
An investigation began about 5:52 a.m. Jan. 29, 2016, when Pottstown police responded to a report of an unresponsive person at an apartment in the 500 block of High Street. Arriving officers found a deceased female, who subsequently was identified as Winslow.
Investigators suspected Winslow died as a result of a heroin overdose after they observed and recovered from the floor, in close proximity to Winslow’s body, three purported bags of heroin, and a needle recovered from atop a dresser, according to the criminal complaint filed by county detectives.
An autopsy subsequently determined Winslow died from an adverse effect of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that prosecutors alleged is commonly used and mixed with street-sold heroin because it amplifies the potency of the heroin.
Prosecutors alleged lab tests on the three bags found in Winslow’s apartment revealed all the bags contained fentanyl.
Detectives obtained the victim’s cellphone records and uncovered alleged “drug-related text message” conversations with Burton, who prosecutors alleged was Winslow’s heroin supplier. Detectives determined Winslow, on Jan. 28, agreed to purchase four bags of purported heroin and that her supplier agreed to deliver the drugs to her at her residence, according to the criminal complaint.
Investigators alleged a review of cellphone and cell tower records indicated Burton was in the vicinity of Winslow’s residence at or around the time of the alleged drug sale.
Video surveillance footage obtained from the vicinity of Winslow’s apartment showed Burton in and around the residence at about 10:46 p.m. Jan. 28, according to the arrest affidavit. Specifically, detectives alleged, Burton was observed entering Winslow’s apartment, remaining inside for a short period of time and then departing.
Winslow’s body was discovered by a friend about 5:48 a.m. Jan. 29.
Detectives alleged a review of video surveillance footage showed that between the time Burton left Winslow’s apartment and the time Winslow’s friend arrived to find her dead, no one else had entered or exited the apartment.