Two Auburn residents went to prison after admitting Friday in Berks County Court that they possessed heroin with intent to deliver it to a North Manheim Township man who died after injecting the drug in November 2014 in Landingville.
Sean M. Hess, 24, and Kaitlin S. Leibensperger, 23, each pleaded guilty before Judge Patrick T. Barrett to involuntary manslaughter and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Barrett promptly sentenced Hess to serve 11 1/2 to 23 months in prison and an additional 13 years probation, and Leibensperger to spend one to two years in a state correctional institution and an additional 13 years probation.
Prosecutors withdrew charges of drug delivery resulting in death, hindering apprehension, conspiracy, tampering with evidence, recklessly endangering another person, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance against Hess and Leibensperger.
State police at Frackville charged Hess and Leibensperger with possessing the heroin with the intent to deliver it to Joseph Deleon, 19, on Nov. 20, 2014, in Fleetwood.
Police said Hess provided Deleon with the heroin and Leibensperger gave him a needle to inject it. Deleon passed out after using the heroin, and was driven to Landingville, where Hess, Leibensperger, and James Lyons, formerly of Schuylkill Haven, left him, according to police.
Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Deb Detweiler pronounced Deleon dead at 4:11 p.m. at the scene. Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III ruled that Deleon died of heroin toxicity.
Kaitlin Leibensperger is not the only member of her family whose life has been affected by drugs.
Her brother, Joshua R. Leibensperger, 25, of Schuylkill Haven, died May 2 at his residence. Moylan said Saturday that he suspects Joshua Leibensperger’s death is drug-related.
Moylan said a virtual autopsy was performed Thursday on Joshua Leibensperger, and the results are consistent with a drug-related death.
He said he is sad to learn when a young person dies and especially when they die of drug-related causes.
“It tears me up so much when we see these young people snuffed out in the prime of their lives,” Moylan said.
State police Trooper Thomas Robin of the Schuylkill Haven station said Tuesday that Joshua Leibensperger’s father, Barry Leibensperger, found his son outside. Robin said state police investigated the death and determined Joshua Leibensperger suffered from “a drug overdose resulting in death.”
He said he probably died early in the morning at his father’s house. No additional investigation is planned.
“It’s terrible. It’s the worst I’ve seen it,” Robin said of people dying from drugs.