A guilty plea was entered for one of the four defendants charged in connection with the drug-related death of 17-month-old Patrick Nicholas Lerch.
The Beacon Journal reports Allen Kostra, 25, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other felonies. Prosecutors say he faces up to 11 years in prison.
Kostra accepted a plea deal which includes testifying in the murder trial of the child's mother, 21-year-old Heather Lerch.
Lerch's boyfriend, Randy Legg, 19, and his brother Ronald Legg, 22, are currently awaiting trial.
Police found an active meth lab in a home on St. Ledger Avenue where 17-month-old Patrick Lerch was found unresponsive February 26th. The toddler's death was ruled a homicide from methamphetamine intoxication.
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The trial date has been set for the mother accused of murder in the death of her 17-month-old child.
The Beacon Journal reports a August 20th trial date was set for Heather Lerch, 20, in Summit County Common Pleas Court.
Lerch and three other adults were charged in connection with the death of 17-month-old Patrick Lerch after police found an active meth lab inside the home on St. Ledger Avenue February 26th.
The toddler's death was ruled a homicide from methamphetamine intoxication.
Ronald S. Legg's, 22, trail date has been set for for September 24th.
A joint trial has been set for Lerch's boyfriend, Randy Legg, 19, and Allen Kostra, 24, on October 4th.
On the Web: www.ohio.com
Indictments handed down today against the four people prosecutors and police say were running a meth house -- one with fumes toxic enough to kill a 17-month old toddler. Little Patrick Lerch died from exposure to meth and the chemicals used to make it, says the Medical Examiner. Now the four arrested for running the meth house -- including Patrick's mother, Heather -- face additional murder charges.
(Summit County Prosecutor) Summit County Prosecuting Attorney Sherri Bevan Walsh today announced formal charges against four people for the death of 17-month-old Patrick Lerch, who was found unresponsive in an Akron home in late February. Heather Lerch, Ronald Legg, Randy Legg and Allen Kostra were previously indicted on charges of Illegal Manufacture of Drugs (a felony of the first degree), Assembly or Possession of Chemicals to Make Meth (a felony of the second degree), Aggravated Possession of Drugs (a felony of the fifth degree) and Drug Paraphernalia (a misdemeanor of the fourth degree). Today’s indictment adds charges for Patrick’s murder.
The full charges are as follows:
Heather Lerch, 20, of St. Leger Street in Akron
Ronald Legg, 22, of Akron
Randy Legg, 19, St. Leger Street in Akron
Allen Kostra, 24, of Akron
Lerch, Legg, Legg and Kostra will be arraigned on these charges at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 6 in Summit County Court of Common Pleas. If convicted on all charges, Lerch and Ronald Legg could spend the rest of their lives in prison. Randy Legg and Kostra could spend up to 22 years in prison.
A not guilty plea was entered for three of the four suspects arrested in connection with the death of a toddler who was found unresponsive inside an Akron home where a meth lab was found.
The Beacon Journal reports the toddler's mother, Heather Lerch, 20; her boyfriend, Randy Legg, 19, and Allen Kostra, 24, appeared in court by video Monday.
Ronald Legg, 22, waived his appearance in court.
17-month-old Patrick Lerch died on Feb. 26 after he was discovered not breathing at what police describe as a meth lab house on Saint Leger Avenue.
The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office reports the child was taken to Akron Children's Hospital, where he later died from methamphetamine intoxication.
Heather Lerch and Ronald Legg have been charged with murder and felony child endangering.
Randy Legg and Kostra have been charged with manslaughter.
On the Web: www.ohio.com
Previous Coverage:
The four suspects arrested in connection with running a meth lab in a home where a toddler was found unresponsive pleaded not guilty to drug charges Wednesday morning.
The Beacon Journal reports the toddler's mother Heather Lerch, 20; her boyfriend Randy Legg, 19; Ronald Legg, 22; and Allen Kostra, 24, were unable to post bond after their arraignment in Summit County Common Pleas Court.
The four suspects are being held on $100,000 dollars cash bond.
On February 26, 17-month-old Patrick Lerch was discovered not breathing at what police describe as a meth lab house on Saint Leger Avenue. The toddler died after he was taken to Akron Children's Hospital.
On the Web: www.ohio.com
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