Elk County Court fighting back against fentanyl
RIDGWAY - Those accused in an Elk County fentanyl death are paying for their actions with stern sentences from Elk County President Judge Shawn T. McMahon in Return Day pleas on Friday in Elk County Court.
Judge McMahon had harsh words for all of the defendants, saying that "directly, as a fault of your actions, you are responsible for a man's death by fentanyl."
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-year-old man who fatally overdosed. Investigators identified the man as James Eckert, and 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 Tricia Joshnick negotiating a heroin deal. Evidence was found on both Joshnick’s and Eckert’s phones that led them to execute a search warrant on Amanda Chittester’s home in Johnsonburg. There, they say they found cell phones, cash, and drugs including heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Further investigation led Troopers to Maria Lynn Rosenhoover, 23, of Johnsonburg, 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.
Rosenhoover 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 said 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
On Friday, Maria Lynn Rosenhoover, 23, of Johnsonburg was the last of the trio sentenced after accepting a plea deal. She pled guilty in two separate cases to possession with Intent to manufacture or deliver controlled substances and criminal use of a communication facility.
McMahon ordered Rosenhoover to pay two fines of $2,500 each, as well as all the court costs and lab fees and sentenced her to 33 to 96 months in a state correctional facility.
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 (RRRI program) or the State Motivational Boot Camp. She was also fined $3,000.
Joshnick pled guilty to two charges in two separate cases. She pled guilty to drug delivery resulting in death and was sentenced to 60180 months in state prison. Like Chittester, she is not eligible for early release under the RRRI program or the State Motivational Boot Camp. At the request of James Eckert's family, all three defendants were declared eligible for the Pennsylvania Drug Treatment initiative in state prison, which involves treatment and intense rehabilitation.
With fentanyl deaths on a seemingly neverending increase, the Elk County Court seeks to stem the tide by making sure everyone knows of the harsh penalties and lengthy state prison sentences that await those caught with drugs in the 59th District.