SMETHPORT — Two of three people charged in the 2015 overdose death of a Bradford man entered not guilty pleas at their arraignment Thursday in McKean County Court.
James A. Luper, 44, of Erie, and Larry W. Shroyer, 46, of Derrick City, are accused of delivering a fatal dose of heroin/butyryl fentanyl to 25-year-old George Duke Jr. of Bradford.
While they entered not guilty pleas at Thursday’s arraignment, they will have the opportunity at a later date to plead guilty if they choose, or ask that a trial be set. Both have plea conferences set for March 1.
The arraignment was held before President Judge John Pavlock.
A third person charged in Duke’s death, Rachel L. Reid, 28, of Bradford, is also scheduled for last day to plea on March 1.
Testimony — much of it from Reid — given at a preliminary hearing for Luper and Shroyer indicated that Luper and Reid lived together in a home where she and two other people worked for Luper selling drugs. Shroyer, who was a daily customer of Reid, allegedly delivered the the strong mixture of heroin/butyryl fentanyl to Duke.
Duke was found deceased in his home in November 2015.
Luper and Shroyer are each incarcerated in McKean County Jail in $100,000 bail.
Reid was released on $10,000 unsecured bail on Dec. 20, the day she testified at her codefendants’ preliminary hearing, but court records indicate she is incarcerated in Beaver County Jail on other charges. She is facing retail theft allegations in Venango County, court records stated.
