The lawyer for a Jeannette man told a jury that prosecutors are seeking to convict the wrong man for the sale of a fatal dose of fentanyl-laced heroin to a Unity man who died in 2021 of an overdose.
Defense attorney Tim Dawson said the case against Andrey Young is based on evidence given to police from the man who should be held responsible for the March 1, 2021, death of 33-year Gerald Lentz Jr.
“We’re not disputing Andrey was a drug user, but we’re adamantly and vehemently disputing he distributed the drugs that killed Gerald Lentz Jr.,” Dawson said in his opening statement to jurors Tuesday in Westmoreland County Court.
Young, 43, is charged with drug delivery resulting in death and four other drug-related counts. Prosecutors say Young sold stamp bags labeled as “Covid-19” to a man he briefly lived with in Jeannette as an intermediary between he and Lentz.
Assistant District Attorney Adam Barr said Lentz contacted childhood friend Stephen Piper to arrange the drug deal. Piper purchased the drugs from Young on Feb. 26 on Lentz’s behalf. Young lived with Piper at his Jeannette home for the previous five days, according to prosecutors.
Police investigating the fatal overdose found used and unused stamp bags labeled “Covid-19” in both Young’s bedroom and at the Unity home near where the lifeless body of Lentz was discovered by family members, Barr said. Evidence of cellphone calls and text messages between Lentz and Piper connected them to the alleged drug sale, the prosecution claims.
Piper, 33, of Jeannette, also was charged with drug delivery resulting in death and four other related counts in connection to Lentz’s fatal overdose. According to court records, he is also awaiting trial in five other criminal cases in which he is charged with drug offenses, drunken driving and theft.
Prosecutors said Piper is expected to testify against Young.
“He was not promised anything and there is no plea deal,” Barr said of Piper’s cooperation.
Dawson suggested Piper falsely implicated Young to shield himself from blame for Lentz’s overdose.
“It’s Stephen Piper. If there is a killer in the room, you will hearing from him on the witness stand,” Dawson said. “They are prosecuting the wrong guy. He (Young) is just the scapegoat.”
The trial is set to continue Wednesday.
