CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – A Pittsburgh man set to stand trial on Thursday on charges related to the heroin overdose death of a Rimersburg man in 2016, is also facing accusations that he threatened a witness in the upcoming trial.
According to court documents, 24-year-old Todd Ellis Carter, Jr., of Pittsburgh, (currently lodged in the Clarion County Jail) was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon in front of District Judge Timothy Schill on a felony charge of intimidation of a witness — withhold testimony.
According to the criminal complaint filed on Tuesday by Clarion-based State Trooper Katherine Berggren, Carter made threats between September 5 and November 3 against a man who is scheduled to testify in the trial.
According to Trooper Berggren, she began an investigation of witness intimidation on Friday, December 8, when she learned a man was to testify on behalf of the Commonwealth of Pa. in a trial in which Carter is the defendant. Information was received that Carter had a known inmate relay a message to the witness while they were both housed in the Clarion County Jail, telling the witness not to testify in the trial.
Tpr. Berggren then spoke with the witness on Monday, December 11, at the Clarion County Jail. The witness told Trooper Berggren that the known inmate told him that Carter didn’t want him to say anything at court and tell them he knew nothing, so neither of them would get charges. The witness said he was not physically scared of Carter, but more concerned with who Carter was associated with, the complaint states.
Trooper Berggren then spoke with the known inmate at the county jail, and he told her that Carter asked him to tell the witness to not say anything at court and tell the court he knew nothing while they were both housed in the same section of the jail. The known inmate said he relayed the message to the witness.
Carter’s bail was set at $25,000.00 cash. His preliminary hearing on the matter is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2.
Drug Death Delivery Case Details:
Investigators from Pa. State Police Troop C filed charges against Todd Ellis Carter, Jr. in relation to a fatal heroin overdose death of Joel Tanner Stark, of Rimersburg.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police with the assistance of the Clarion County Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The investigation revealed that Carter allegedly delivered the fatal heroin to Stark and two confidential informants on January 14, 2016, in Allegheny County.
Eight stamp bags, some used, marked “‘Essence” were recovered from Stark’s residence near his body. On January 15, 2016, troopers conducted a controlled purchase of heroin from Carter in Allegheny County. Twenty stamp bags were purchased from Carter, and an additional amount of heroin was seized from Carter upon his arrest. The heroin was all stamped with the same “Essence” logo.
The following charges were filed against Carter in District Judge Schill’s office:
– Drug Delivery Resulting in Death
– Delivery of Heroin
– Possession with intent to Deliver Heroin
– Criminal Use of a Communication Facility
Carter’s trial is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Clarion County Courthouse with President Judge James G. Arner presiding.
