Geiger

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A local man charged in the 2022 overdose death of Zachariah Coccia pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony drug delivery resulting in death in exchange for two to 15 years’ imprisonment.

On what was supposed to be the first day of his jury trial in Blair County court, Michael Bruce Geiger, 59, pleaded guilty to single felony counts of drug delivery resulting in death and possession with intent to deliver. He was sentenced by President Judge Wade A. Kagarise to two to 15 years in a state correctional facility. The remaining charges against Geiger, which included misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and possession of a controlled substance, were dismissed and his trial was canceled.

Defense attorney Mark Zearfaus said Geiger, formerly of Altoona, Hollidaysburg and Huntingdon, was eager to get past the incident and improve his life as he had been an addict for many years.

The charges against Geiger stem from the overdose death of Coccia, 24, on Nov. 12, 2022, at Coccia’s residence along the 800 block of North Cambria Street, Bellwood. Toxicology reports stated Coccia had xylazine and fentanyl in his system.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Coccia’s grandmother told officers she took Coccia to a residence along Fourth Avenue after picking him up from work. While there, she saw Coccia with an individual she later identified in a photo lineup as Geiger.

A search of Coccia’s bedroom yielded several red and white wax packets stamped “Scrooge McDuck,” seven used syringes, two plastic bottle caps, a spoon with white powdery residue, a black straw and a plastic zip-top bag containing a cigarette pack with 49 buprenorphine. Prescribed suboxone strips were found on a bedside table.

Coccia was found dead in the residence with one used and two unused syringes nearby. A cellphone, found under his body, contained contacts between him and Geiger, according to the police report.

The first criminal jury trial against Geiger was declared a mistrial in early September after the seated number of jurors dropped below 12, with no remaining alternates. That jury had been composed of 12 individuals and four alternates, which were selected in mid-June. Two jurors failed to appear for duty, one was previously dismissed and erroneously called to serve and another was arrested between jury selection and the trial’s commencement.

Following opening arguments and testimony from three witnesses, the court recessed for lunch. During the break, a juror notified the court that they realized they were familiar with Coccia’s family members, who were present in the courtroom during the trial.

After Kagarise asked Geiger if he would be comfortable continuing the trial with a panel of 11 jurors, Geiger said no and Kagarise declared a mistrial. A second jury was selected on Oct. 29.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.