Man Involved in Drug-Related Death of Oil City Man to Be Sentenced on Friday

| January 9, 2022

VENANGO CO., Pa. (EYT) – A man who was reportedly involved in the 2018 drug-related death of an Oil City man is scheduled to stand for sentencing on Friday.

According to court documents, 41-year-old Aanik Jannza Jones is scheduled to stand for sentencing in front of Senior Judge Robert L. Boyer at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, January 14, 2022, on one first-degree misdemeanor count of Involuntary Manslaughter.

Jones pleaded guilty to the above charge on October 22, 2021.

As a result of the plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed:

– Drug Delivery Resulting In Death, Felony 1
– Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony
– Conspiracy – Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, Felony

Jones is currently lodged at SCI Fayette.

The charges stem from a drug overdose death that occurred in late 2018.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, early in the morning on November 9, 2018, the known victim arrived at a residence of Jesika McLaughlin on Allegheny Avenue in an attempt to purchase controlled substances. McLaughlin, having nothing to sell, then began to send text messages to Carina Warnick to purchase heroin for herself and for the victim.

Warnick and Anik Jones then arrived at McLaughlin’s home, where Jones allegedly measured out the controlled substances to be purchased by the victim through McLaughlin, who acted as an exchange for the purchase.

The victim began to prepare his controlled substance to inject into his body and asked McLaughlin how much to mix, because he had never “speedballed” before. He then prepared the mixture, “cooked” it, and drew it into his syringe, according to the complaint.

Due to the use of heroin at McLaughlin’s home prior to this incident, the victim was having great difficulty injecting the substance, and was assisted by another individual who offered to inject him, the complaint notes.

After a short period of time, the victim began to have a physical reaction described as convulsing or seizure-like behavior. McLaughlin and another individual tried to assist the victim, but he collapsed on the floor.

According to the complaint, Jones then demanded that he and Warnick flee, so they were not found at the scene. As they fled the scene, they left a cell phone laying on the dining room table.

McLaughlin and a known male remained at the residence and contacted Venango County 9-1-1 for assistance and remained with the victim until paramedics and police arrived at the scene.

Sr. Patrolman Culp stated that a response McLaughlin had regarding a question about the cell phone on the dining room table led police to seize the phone. A search warrant for the phone was then obtained and messages were found which detailed the transaction for the drugs for the victim. The search also yielded identifying information for the user of the phone, the complaint states.

The victim was transported to UPMC Northwest, then flown to UPMC Hamot for additional medical treatment. He passed away on January 16.

On January 17, police spoke to a representative of the Erie County Coroner’s office who stated the cause of death was complications due to drug toxicity.

Jones was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish at 2:00 p.m. on May 28.

Court documents indicate multiple felony drug charges against Jones were also held for court in Crawford County on Tuesday, May 26.

RELATED:

Oil City Woman Sentenced to Up to Five Years in State Prison in Drug-Related Death of Oil City Man

Oil City Overdose Leads to Felony Charges Against Local Woman


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