Trending
HOLLIDAYSBURG -- An Altoona man who rendered guilty pleas Monday to drug delivery resulting in death and related offenses is hoping to qualify for the state Drug Treatment Program.
David McCool, 30, who has been in the Blair County Prison since his arrest in November 2022, rendered the pleas based on charges Altoona police filed after an investigation into the overdose death of 42-year-old Kevin Loughney.
Loughney was found dead on March 4, 2022, at a residence on the 1200 block of 14th Avenue.
Based on the negotiated plea, Judge Jackie Bernard sentenced McCool to three to 10 years' incarceration, followed by five years' probation, with eligibility for the state Drug Treatment Program.
Defense attorney Kristen Anastasi said McCool is a good candidate for the program because he has no prior record and he becomes eligible after a year of incarceration. Because McCool has been in the county prison since November 2022, he should be eligible for the program shortly after being transferred to a state prison, she said.
Bernard told McCool that his entry into the state Drug Treatment Program will rest with the state Department of Corrections. She also said that he'll be responsible for efforts to stay in the program.
"The state Drug Treatment Program can help you ... but the hard work is on you," the judge said.
McCool told Bernard that he wants to get into the program and "get on the straight and narrow path" and avoid drug use that's been "messing with my life."
McCool said his drug use began when he was 16, starting with marijuana. At the time of Loughney's death, McCool said he was using methamphetamine.
In charges filed against him, police said McCool admitted to purchasing methamphetamine and using it with Loughney.
Police also charged Calvin Ward as the person who advised them that he had sold drugs to McCool and Nicole Robinson.
An autopsy revealed that Loughney died of a multi-drug overdose of methamphetamine, fentanyl, xylazine and mitragynine.
Anastasi said Monday that the negotiated plea was a good option for McCool because it directed him toward treatment.
"It would have been a big risk to go to trial, especially if he was convicted of death by delivery," Anastasi said.
Ward, who rendered guilty pleas in April to several drug-related offenses, including delivery resulting in death, was sentenced to five to 10 years' incarceration, followed by 10 years' probation.
At that time, District Attorney Pete Weeks told Bernard that Ward's negotiated sentence would permit him to be considered for the state Drug Treatment Program, as requested by Linda Loughney, the mother of the overdose victim who advocated treatment for all involved.
Police also charged Robinson with drug delivery resulting in death and related charges in Loughney's death. Online court records show Robinson's charges are up for review in court in September.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.