WARREN – Three Warren County people have been charged in connection with a 2017 drug fatality involving synthetic marijuana, according to court documents obtained by WNYNewsNow.
Cody A. Streit, 27, of 36 Griff Hill Rd., Clarendon, Pa., Douglas A. Harkins, 44, of 205 Sanity Ln., Sugar Grove, and Michael J. Marshall, 33, of 604 Henry St., Apt/Suite 1, Warren, all appeared before Magisterial District Judge Raymond F. Zydonik on Monday.
According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained Tuesday morning by WNYNewsNow, 24-year-old Robert Marshall died Apr. 3, 2017, from acute intoxication from a substance in a plant that’s known as Hypnotic Black Sabbath. The sworn affidavit from Warren Police Detective Anthony Chimenti states that Harkins and Streit, together, purchased the synthetic marijuana off of the internet.
The package containing the synthetic marijuana was reportedly shipped to Harkins’ residence. On Apr.3, the affidavit stated that Harkins tried the drugs and became what was described as “garbage can sick.” Streit reportedly arrived at the scene to get his share of the drugs before Harkins tried them.
“The victim arrived shortly after co-defendant Streit with his mother, mother’s boyfriend and co-defendant Mike Marshall,” the affidavit continues. “The defendant Harkins packed a pipe of the Potpourri, with the package name Black Sabbath, and passed the pipe around the group.”
“The victim smoked the pipe given to him by defendant Harkins and smoked at least two different packed pipes of the Black Sabbath while he was at the residence. The defendant Harkins, along with co-defendant Mike Marshall, sold and traded the drugs with each other and provided some drugs to the victim.”
Documents continued by discussing how, when realizing Robert Marshall wasn’t responding, the group failed to take Marshall to the emergency room.
“The group left the Harkins’ residence and traveled back to” Warren, according to the affidavit. “Upon arrival to the Warren area, co-defendants Streit and Marshall both noticed the victim was not responding to them. It was suggested at that time to take the victim to the emergency room. The victim was not taken at that time because of fear he would get in trouble for being on drugs. At the residence… the victim was not responsive and could not exit the vehicle. The victim was dragged from the vehicle and then rolled down a hill located next to the residence due to his size.”
“The victim laid in the yard until it was found that he was not breathing,” the affidavit continued. “The co-defendant Marshall contacted neighbors who helped drag the victim into the residence where one of the neighbors began CPR. Another neighbor contacted 911 and authorities were dispatched to the scene. The victim was transported to Warren General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
The affidavit stated that Mike Marshall admitted to seeing the victim in distress, and that he cleaned and concealed the victim’s drugs and drug paraphernalia prior to first responders arriving.
Streit and Harkins are both charged with of drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy – possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communications facility, and recklessly endangering another person.
Marshall is charged with possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy possession with intent to deliver; tampering with physical evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bail was set at $250,000 for Harkins, $200,000 for Streit, and $100,000 for Marshall. All three hearings are scheduled for 1 p.m. next Wednesday.
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