Man found guilty in 2022 South Union Township overdose death sentenced
A Dunbar man who was convicted of selling a South Union Township man heroin that resulted in his death was sentenced to 6 ½ to 20 years earlier this week.
Last month Brandon Zinsky, 47, was found guilty by a Fayette County jury of drug delivery resulting in the death of Tab Michael Softa, 63, on Aug. 24, 2022.
According to state police, video surveillance from a neighbor’s home showed a car picking up Softa at about 9:15 a.m. and dropping him back off 15 minutes later. At that point, police said, Softa collapsed and convulsed after he got out of the car at his South Union Township home.
The man driving the vehicle, Perry Lee Leapline, 64, of Vanderbilt, pleaded guilty last month to possession with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance, and was immediately sentenced by President Judge Steve P. Leskinen to two years of house arrest and five years on probation.
Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said Leapline’s testimony against Zinsky was “absolutely instrumental” in securing a conviction.
The woman who lived in the apartment where police said Softa purchased the heroin, Rebecca Anne Brennsteiner, 52, of Uniontown, is awaiting trial on charges of drug delivery resulting in death.
Assistant District Attorney A.J. Gentile, who prosecuted the case, said he was pleased with the sentence imposed by Judge Mark Mehalov.
“We’re happy with the sentence and think it’s fair,” Gentile said.
A fourth person charged in Softa’s death, Charles Swink, 64, of Lemont Furnace, died before his case could be resolved, according to Gentile.
Brian Aston, Zinsky’s defense attorney, did not return a call for comment.