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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- A Blairsville man who supplied the drugs that led to the overdose death of a city resident in February 2022 was sentenced Friday morning to five- to 20-years' incarceration.
Brian Scot Davenport Jr., 36, pleaded guilty to single felony counts of drug delivery resulting in death, conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver, criminal conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy to commit criminal use of a communication facility and single misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Davenport attended the plea hearing in front of Judge Jackie Atherton Bernard via video from SCI Coal Township. Defense attorney Mary Elizabeth Schaffer told Bernard that Davenport was enrolled in a number of classes at SCI Coal Township and if he had been transported for the court hearing, he would have been kicked out and would have needed to re-enroll and start over.
When given the opportunity to address the court, Davenport said he was sorry for his actions.
"I'm definitely changing my ways and taking all necessary courses and actions," Davenport said.
Assistant District Attorney Dani McCormick then told Bernard that, while the victim's family were not present in court, they were in agreement with the plea deal.
Bernard then sentenced Davenport to five to 20 years in prison, to pay $600 in fines and credited him with time served since Feb. 21, 2023. The remaining charge against him was withdrawn and dismissed.
The charges were filed after Altoona police responded to a residence along the 1600 block of 20th Avenue on Feb. 18, 2022, to investigate a drug overdose resulting in the death of 41-year-old Joseph Charles Sr.
During a monthslong investigation, state police worked to trace the drugs responsible for Charles’s death. A tip led police to Eldon Allen Sajko, 56, who in turn said he purchased the drugs from Davenport.
Sajko is being held at the Blair County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail for his alleged role in the case. He was charged with single felony counts of drug delivery resulting in death, criminal use of a communication facility, conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver, two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver and misdemeanor counts of criminal use of a communication facility and possession of drug paraphernalia. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 2 in front of Bernard.
Davenport has been incarcerated since 2023 after being arrested in Center Township, Indiana County, on firearm and drug charges, according to a report by WPXI.
Officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of a business along the 8900 block of Route 286 Highway West and identified Davenport as its driver. They determined that Davenport was wanted by the Blairsville Police Department for two separate incidents, the report states.
A subsequent search of Davenport and his vehicle revealed controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, a firearm, ammunition and about $2,409 in cash. Davenport ultimately pleaded guilty in that case to two felony counts of possession with intent to deliver, a felony count of possession of a firearm prohibited and a misdemeanor count of fleeing police across three cases. He was sentenced to six- to 13-years' incarceration in a state correctional institution, which will run concurrently with his Blair County sentence.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.