West Kittanning Man Allegedly Linked to Teen’s Death
by Jonathan Weaver
A local man believed to be connected to a juvenile death in West Kittanning Borough has been summoned to court.
Toby Lee Noel, shown in this 2010 prison inmate photo, is accused in the death of Anthony Kline.
Toby Lee Noel, 21, of 117 1/2 Cleveland St. has been summoned on charges of corruption of minors and furnishing alcohol to minors directly connected to the death of 14-year-old Anthony Joseph Kline in West Kittanning last October.
The corruption of minors charge is a 1st degree misdemeanor and the furnishing charge is a 3rd degree misdemeanor. While monetary fine and incarceration sentences will be at District Magisterial Judge James Owen’s discretion, it is believed that Noel can face no more than a combined three years in the Armstrong County Jail.
Noel’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 5 at 9AM.
State Police Trooper Michael Kapustik issued the criminal complaint affidavit of probable cause against Noel earlier this week.
“I interviewed multiple people who were witnesses that night and who were with the victim, we pulled information from the autopsy and I sat down with the District Attorney and we figured this was the appropriate charge,” Trooper Kapustik said.
The criminal affidavit filed Monday stated that on Sunday, October 3, Kline contacted Noel to take him to a local gas station in a red Volkswagen Jetta. Noel allegedly bought Kline at least one Tilt malt beverage for Kline’s consumption on his way to meet with a 17-year-old girl in Ford City to acquire money to purchase marijuana.
Noel then allowed the juveniles to use his mobile phone to contact another juvenile to purchase the drug within a church parking lot in Worthington Borough. Once the marijuana was purchased, Noel allegedly smoked the drug with the juveniles.
Noel’s phone again was used by the juveniles to re-contact the drug dealer and purchase prescription Oxycontin pills at the Worthington Civic Center. Kline allegedly ingested two of these pills with a Tilt malt beverage, and Noel also ingested two.
According to police, Kline spent the rest of the evening with friends within Noel’s vehicle before leaving at the intersection of Central Street and April Way in West Kittanning at approximately 11PM.
Anthony Kline
Kline was found the next day within the backyard of his Cleveland Street residence. An autopsy and toxicology screen showed Kline had a blood alcohol content of .162 percent with oxycodone and THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, the main ingredient of marijuana - within his blood.
Even though other persons in the vehicle were interviewed by police, Kapustik explained why Noel is the only one charged at present time.
“We can’t have corruption of minors for anyone under the age of 18, and anyone under the age of 21, can’t furnish,” Kapustik said.
This is not Noel’s first run-in with the law. He was arrested and jailed in July 2010 for Burglary and Criminal Trespass.
Kapustik has been involved in the state police investigation since Kline’s death 10 months ago.
Local News | jweaver August 18, 2011
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By JohnK, August 18, 2011 @ 8:29 AM
How about involuntary manslaughter? A 21 year old gets a 14 year old beer, marijuana and oxycontin and leaves him to die and he gets two mismisdemeanors?
No wonder the drugs are out of control in this area. Slap on the wrist. Give these bums some serious jail time and they’ll reconsider doing and selling drugs.
By SmellTheCorruption, August 18, 2011 @ 12:58 PM
Hmmmmm. I wonder who this young man may or may not have pulling favors for him. Possibly a relative or a boyfriend of a/his mother? Just curious.
By worthingtonman, August 18, 2011 @ 2:47 PM
It would also be nice to have the juvenile who dealt the drugs named. Now all the parents in Worthington know is that there is a juvenile dealing drugs. I have a good idea who it might be, but it would seem like that would be good information for the parents. Far too often slaps on the wrist are given out and additional citizens are harmed. If the above mentioned individual is found guilty, you would think manslaughter charges would be called for. 14 year old kids know right from wrong, but are easily led astray and adults who lead them astray should be removed from society so that they can not lead other kids astray.
By fordcitygirl, August 18, 2011 @ 7:55 PM
For one thing Toby Noel was under the age of 21 when this happened. So who bought him the acohol. They should be charged.
By steelers1, August 18, 2011 @ 9:20 PM
No one knows what happened that night except for the people that were there. Some of these kids didnt tell the whole truth to the police and everything got twisted around in the papers. Accidents happen and people make mistakes. Yes this boys life was taken but he made the decisions he made that day…No one told him take these drugs, drink this alcohol. It may sound harsh but I’m sure that man did not have intentions of this happening in the end. Hopefully the truth will come out after the court hearing.
By dirty ratz, August 19, 2011 @ 3:35 AM
I hear ya smellthecorruption .I wonder who did the autopsy that they didn’t know exactly what caused this child’s death. And if he is still on the streets after a burglary charge what do you think will happen to a couple of misdemeanors?
If Mr.Noel was underage when this happened,let him open his mouth and tell the police where the alcohol came from. That’s the least he could do after being involved in the death of child.
@steelers1 this boy was a child! Kids don’t make always make good decision. And these laws are in place for scumbags that lead and/or help kids make bad decisions.
By stopthecrime, August 22, 2011 @ 1:15 PM
I just want to say this whole thing is ridiculous! He needs to serve jail time whether or not he intended on this happening he still bought him alcohol, and drove him to pick up drugs and took the drugs himself!! that there should be enough to put him behind bars. And for the people that posted saying how he chose to take the drugs ok so what if he did.. Mr. Noel still drove him to get them and took them himself. he is a criminal!!!! And he deserves to face jail time. Think about his family.. and what they are going through.