Uniontown man held for court in drug death
A Uniontown man Thursday was ordered held for court in the overdose death of a Robinson Township man.
Myron Moore, 31, of 902 Woodview Terrace, remains jailed in lieu $500,000 bond on charges of drug delivery resulting in death. He could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
“Because this is not criminal homicide, he is eligible for bond,” said Assistant District Attorney Jerry Moschetta. “It’s in the same category as criminal homicide, but it is a lesser offense.”
Moore allegedly met the victim, Justin Halyak, 35, and Halyak’s fiance, Jessica Pavone, in the parking lot of the New Salem Mini Mart in Fayette County on Feb. 17, 2015, and sold heroin to Pavone for $300, warning her it was in raw form, meaning it was uncut with other substances, and that they should be careful with it.
Pavone and Halyak then returned to their Robinson Township home where they snorted and injected the heroin, according to the affidavit filed with the charges. Pavone told police that she fell asleep and when she woke up, found Halyak unresponsive. She attempted to administer CPR and called for medical assistance. Attempts to revive Halyak with Narcan were unsuccessful.
Coroner S. Timothy testified at the preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Traci McDonald in Cecil township that Halyak had died from a heroin overdose, Moschetta said.
While the statute permitting charges to be filed against those who sell drugs resulting in death has existing in its present form since 2011, Moschetta said it is not a common charge.
“Often it’s difficult to deal with who sold the drugs when potentially the only witness could be dead,” Moschetta said.
Moschetta said there are also often issues with multiple drugs in a person’s system, with the combination being what led to the death, not a single drug purchased from one person.
Moschetta said Pavone is not facing any charges in the case because evidence shows that she and Halyak had gone together to purchase the drugs and she did not serve as the dealer in the case.
In addition to the charge of drug delivery resulting in death, Moore was also held for delivery of heroin and cocaine, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of heroin and cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Moore faces formal arraignment in Washington County Common Pleas Court on Feb. 24.