SMETHPORT — One of three men accused in the drug overdose death of a Bradford man in 2015 has pleaded guilty.
James A. Luper Jr., 44, entered the plea Thursday in McKean County Court before President Judge John Pavlock to charges of conspiracy to possess a designer drug, a felony, and involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree misdemeanor.
In November 2015, 25-year-old George Duke Jr. was found deceased in his bedroom after overdosing on a mix of butyrfentanyl and heroin.
Because Luper entered a plea, the following charges against him were dismissed: conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, drug delivery, possession of a designer drug, conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit involuntary manslaughter, possession of a controlled substance and recklessly endangering another person.
Luper was charged in Duke’s death, along with Larry W. Shroyer Sr., 46, and Rachel Reid, 28.
Neither Reid nor Shroyer has been convicted of any charges, and both cases are still pending resolution. Reid has a last day to plea conference set for Sept. 20, while Shroyer told Pavlock on March 15 that he wanted a trial.
According to District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer, between Nov. 5-13 in 2015, Luper conspired with Shroyer and Reid to deliver butyrfentanyl, which she said is “a designer drug similar to fentanyl.”
Luper packed butyrfentanyl-laced heroin that was sold to Duke. Shaffer said Luper made sure the mixture was “potent” and sold it despite its danger.
Bradford attorney Daniel Lang is representing Luper.
Testimony 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 strong mixture of heroin/butyrfentanyl to Duke.
Shroyer is also charged in a second case for allegedly telling a Bradford City police officer over the phone that he would turn himself in on the charges, then failing to show up. He was arrested more than a week later at a Looker Mountain Trail home.
Luper will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Aug. 17.
All three defendants are scheduled to appear for a hearing on Aug. 16 regarding a motion by the Shaffer to consolidate their cases for trial. It is unclear how Luper’s entry of a plea will affect the motion.
Shroyer is represented by Ridgway attorney John Thomas, and Reid is represented by Ridgway attorney Christopher Martini.
