Attorney asks for charges to be dismissed against man in overdose death

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — The attorney representing a Warren man accused of supplying the drugs that led to a woman’s overdose said Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court the case should be dismissed because prosecutors can not prove his client was talking about drug deliveries with another who later died.

Tom Zena, who represents Anthony Harris, 40, also told Judge Anthony Donofrio that it was a third man who was never charged who gave the drugs to the woman who overdosed.

Harris faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter for the Feb. 14, 2022, overdose death of the woman. A trial is set for Aug. 5.

Assistant Prosecutor Martin Hume said a grand jury found probable cause that Harris did commit a crime and that prosecutors will be to show that Harris and Alan Hunt III did talk about drugs just before the woman overdosed.

Hunt’s charges were dismissed in September after he died at the age of 55.

Court records show Harris pleaded guilty March 5 in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court before Judge Andrew Logan to charges of trafficking in cocaine, a fourth-degree felony; a third-degree felony charge of possession of cocaine; and four fifth-degree felony counts of possession of cocaine.

A sentencing date will be set following a presentence investigation.

Zena said that while prosecutors can show that Hunt and Harris talked to each other, they do not have information about what the two discussed.

Judge Donofrio said he will study briefs by both sides before making a ruling.

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