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Streit pleads not guilty in 2017 synthetic drug death case

Times Observer file photo Cody A. Streit

A Clarendon man has entered a procedural not guilty plea to charges stemming from a 2017 drug-related death.

Cody A. Streit entered the plea before President Judge Maureen Skerda on Thursday at the Warren County Courthouse.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Robert Marshall, 24, died of acute intoxication of a chemical in a synthetic marijuana — Hypnotic Black Sabbath — allegedly ordered and furnished by Streit and Harkins.

During interviews with police, according to the affidavit, Douglas Harkins of Sugar Grove said the drugs were delivered to Streit and Streit said the drugs were delivered to Harkins.

Shortly thereafter, according to the affidavit, Robert Marshall, his mother, her boyfriend, Michael Marshall, Streit and Harkins were at Harkins’ residence.

According to the affidavit, Harkins “packed a pipe of the (drug) with the package name Black Sabbath, and passed the pipe around to the group. The victim smoked the pipe given to him by defendant Harkins and smoked at least two different packed pipes of the Black Sabbath while he was at the residence.”

“The group left the Harkins’ residence and traveled back to” Warren, according to the affidavit. “Upon arrival to the Warren area, co-defendants Streit and Marshall both noticed the victim was not responding to them. It was suggested at that time to take the victim to the emergency room. The victim was not taken at that time because of fear he would get in trouble for being on drugs.”

“At the residence… the victim was not responsive and could not exit the vehicle,” according to the affidavit. “The victim was dragged from the vehicle and then rolled down a hill located next to the residence due to his size.”

“The victim lay in the yard until it was found that he was not breathing,” according to the affidavit. “The co-defendant (Michael) Marshall contacted neighbors who helped drag the victim into the residence where one of the neighbors began CPR. Another neighbor contacted 911 and authorities were dispatched to the scene. The victim was transported to Warren General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.”

Harkins and Streit face identical charges — drug delivery resulting in death; possession with intent to deliver; conspiracy — possession with intent to deliver; criminal use of a communications facility; and recklessly endangering another person.

Marshall faces charges of possession with intent to deliver; conspiracy — possession with intent to deliver; tampering with physical evidence; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bail was set at $250,000 for Harkins, $200,000 for Streit, and $100,000 for Marshall.

Online court records indicate that Harkins is awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 1 while Marshall’s preliminary hearing is set for March 27.

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