A New Kensington man awaiting trial on charges that he sold a fatal dose drugs to a Westmoreland County Prison inmate can be released from jail on an unsecured bond, a judge ruled Friday.
Davi Javier Roman, 30, was charged last September following a county grand jury investigation into alleged drug overdoses at the Hempfield jail that included the death of one inmate.
Terry L. Brumley Jr., 33, was found dead in his cell the morning of Sept. 28, 2023. An autopsy revealed his death was caused by a fentanyl overdose.
Six other inmates showed signs of drug overdoses, some of whom were treated at a hospital Sept. 27 and 28, 2023, according to court records. Prosecutors contend Roman was the source of the drugs.
He was charged with drug delivery resulting in death and additional drug related counts in connection to the jail overdoses.
Roman was also charged with drug delivery resulting in death in connection to the fatal overdose of a woman whose body was found on Sept. 26, 2023 in New Kensington.
Police said Shaunna Thomas, 27, formerly of Jeannette, overdosed on drugs provided by Roman, with whom she lived with in New Kensington.
Roman had been in custody without bail since his arrest.
Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio ruled Roman can be released on an unsecured $25,000 bond and await trial on house arrest in response to a defense claim that his speedy trial rights were violated.
State law requires prosecutors to bring jailed defendants to trial within six months.
Roman’s trial is tentatively scheduled for July.