Suspected Drug Dealer Charged with Kittanning Overdose Death

by Jonathan Weaver

A local man suspected of multiple drug offenses in 2016 is also now being charged with the overdose death of a Kittanning woman this past October.

Yesterday, County District Attorney Scott Andreassi and Kittanning Borough Police Chief Bruce Mathews announced the arrest and arraignment of 38-year-old Zane Clever, of Queen Street in Kittanning. Clever is suspected of selling heroin to 32-year-old Angela Wright the day of her death October 23.

“It’s the first time we’ve been able to link a specific drug to a specific drug dealer to a specific death,” Andreassi said.

Andreassi proceeded to explain that it is the first time local police have been able to file first-degree felony charges under the state’s Title 18 statute.

According to that statute via current legislation, a person is suspected of “Drug Delivery Resulting in Death,” “if the person intentionally administers, dispenses, delivers, gives, prescribes, sells or distributes any controlled substance or counterfeit controlled substance in violation of…The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, and another person dies as a result of using the substance.”

“Wright died October 23 – she was found by her father the morning after she died. With her was her child,” Andreassi said. “We were able to establish through the work of (Kittanning Borough Police) Officer (Greg) Koprivnak that earlier that day, Ms. Wright had purchased from Mr. Clever and then again that evening. That evening, we were able to establish that she made a purchase that we believe were the drugs she used that night that caused her death.”

If convicted, Clever would face the penalty of 40 years in prison.

County Coroner Brian Myers suspected cause of death to be combined toxicity of heroin and fentanyl.

Andreassi commended Kittanning Borough Police, the District Attorney’s office and the Sheriff’s Department for “an incredible investigation.”

Chief Mathews indicated the investigation is still ongoing, due to subpoenas, search warrants and other police paperwork.

“We do feel confident after reviewing everything we do have to this point and reviewing it with (Andreassi) in moving forward,” Chief Mathews said.

Clever, who was arraigned by District Magisterial Judge James Owen Wednesday and committed to the Armstrong County Jail on $50,000 bond, is charged with three other offenses – including two counts of felony of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver and a misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person - in addition to the felony statute.

Clever’s preliminary hearing is scheduled in two weeks.

2 Comments

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  By ktown_kid, January 13, 2017 @ 8:59 AM

  That’s a start but let’s charge every dealer in town this including all of the out of town citizens who walk the streets of kittanning. Hopefully Andreassi doesn’t drop the ball on this one. Earn your wage!!
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  By worthingtonman, January 13, 2017 @ 1:08 PM

  OMG Andreas I is probably already trying to cut a deal. This is one of the toughest crimes to convict on and let me tell you Scotty is not the man to get it done. Are you trying to tell me out of the hundreds of overdose cases this is the first one that is tryable? This guy did not stick the needles in Angie’s arm. If he would not have sold it to her. Tens of others would. I am glad to see them trying though I have zero confidence in Andressi

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