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Two from Schuylkill charged in connection with drug death

State police at Frackville have charged two people with providing drugs that resulted in the death of a Schuylkill County man.

Troopers identified the suspects as Sean Hess, 23, of 206 N. Second St., Auburn, and Kaitlin Leibensperger, 22, whose last known address is 230 Sanderson St., Pottsville.The two are charged in connection with the drug death of Joseph DeLeon, 19, of North Manheim Township. He was found dead inside a vehicle at the parking lot of the Landingville Fire Company on Nov. 20, 2014.Both suspects have been charged with drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and hindering apprehension or prosecution, all felonies; and misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, recklessly endangering another person and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.Troopers said that Hess, Leibensperger and James Lyons, whose age and address were not released, went to the Sheetz service station/mini-mart along Kutztown Road in Fleetwood, Berks County, earlier in the day on Nov. 20. Hess sold DeLeon 10 bags of heroin for $60, Troopers said five were for DeLeon and five for Lyons. Leibensperger provided the needles to inject the drug while at the parking lot at Sheetz.Hess went into Sheetz's while Leibensperger, Lyons and DeLeon injected the heroin. Shortly after that DeLeon passed out.Troopers said DeLeon injected five of the 10 bags that were purchased. When Hess returned to the vehicle, he, Lyons and Leibensperger noticed Deleon's vital signs were fading and Hess and Lyons then moved DeLeon into the back seat.Hess then drove Deleon's vehicle to the parking lot of the Landingville Fire Company where it was decided that Lyons would stay with DeLeon, which he did, troopers said. He also called 911.Troopers said Hess and Leibensperger walked away from the vehicle, but Leibensperger returned and retrieved drug paraphernalia and three bags of heroin. She and Hess were picked up by a friend in the area.An autopsy revealed DeLeon died of heroin toxicity.The two were arraigned before District Judge Gail M. Greth, of Fleetwood. Bail was set at $200,000 straight cash for both.They could not post the bail and were committed to the county prison in Reading. The charges were filed in Berks County because the drug transaction that led to DeLeon's death occurred in Fleetwood, troopers said.