Coaldale man pleads guilty to drug charge

A Coaldale man involved in a drug transaction that preceded the overdose death of a Tamaqua woman in April 2016 admitted to a drug charge stemming from the case.

Jonathan J. Seekins, 35, pleaded guilty before Schuylkill County Judge Charles M. Miller to criminal solicitation — manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver.

Miller told Seekins he would be sent to the state prison at Camp Hill to be evaluated before sentencing.

Special Deputy Attorney General Nathan L. Boob, who prosecuted the case, said that, depending on the results of the evaluation, Seekins could be admitted to the state intermediate punishment program for two years.

If he is, he would serve at least seven to nine months in state prison, followed by “steps down” that could include drug treatment facility and then various levels of supervision, Boob said.

Seekins was represented by Public Defender Debra A. Smith.

Additional charges of drug delivery resulting in death and intent to possess a controlled substance by a person not registered were dropped.

Seekins, 35, who is in the county prison, also was to have his probation revoked on Wednesday due to being charged by Lansford police officer Shawn M. Nunemacher with possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness on Sept. 4.

On Sept. 10, as Tamaqua police were executing warrants on a suspected drug dealer on Railroad Street, Seekins was walking toward the suspect’s residence when he noticed the activity.

His next actions caught the attention of police, who then spoke to him about where he was headed. During the conversation Seekins admitted having syringes in his pocket. They were confiscated and he was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

The charge that Seekins admitted to stemmed from a 2016 drug deal that may have led to an overdose death.

In that case, a Schuylkill County jury in June found Kyle J. Merenda, 23, of Barnesville, not guilty of drug delivery resulting in death and related charges in the April 1, 2016, death of Alexandria “Alex” Sienkiewicz, 23, of Tamaqua.

According to testimony and police, Sienkiewicz, along with Seekins, and Melanie L. Kropp, 26, of Mahanoy City, traveled to Merenda’s house at 57 Shady Lane to buy 50 bags of heroin the night of April 1, 2016.

Merenda, known as “Kilo,” warned them, “This stuff is strong,” both Kropp and Seekins testified at Merenda’s trial.

The next morning, Sienkiewicz’s mother, Tammy, found her dead on her bed.

An autopsy revealed she died as a result of fentanyl toxicity.