A Clarion County jury convicted two men of all charges Monday for their roles in connection with the drug overdose death of a Clarion man in 2018.
The panel, which consisted of nine women and three men, took less than two and one-half hours to return their verdicts against Spencer Gene Rudolph, 24, of Shippenville, and Aaron Ernest Johnson, 32, of Pittsburgh.
The pair were both found guilty of felony counts of drug delivery resulting in death, corrupt organizations, conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility.
The charges stemmed from the November 2018 death of William Stout at his Clarion apartment. Stout died from fentanyl toxicity.
Defense attorneys Rob Taylor and Eric Jobe requested the jury be polled. Each juror affirmed his or her verdict.
“I am very happy with the jury’s verdict,” said Clarion County District Attorney Drew Welsh. “I think the evidence supported that conviction. The thing that struck me, sitting here with Mr. Stout’s father and fiancee, is how important it is to them that the people responsible are being held accountable.”
“I also think this shows what great collaboration law enforcement can do,” Welsh added. “There are a lot of agencies involved from Clarion Borough, the D.A.’s office, the state police and the district attorneys in Allegheny, Elk and Jefferson counties and Monroeville. The collaboration in this case shows what is possible.”
Much of Welsh’s case focused on the operations and workings of a multi-county drug ring that brought drugs into Clarion County.
Several other defendants in addition to Rudolph and Johnson were charged in the case, and most of them testified during the trial.
“I feel this verdict sends a really strong message that if you bring drugs into this county we are not going to stand for it,” said Welsh.
Bob Stout, who is William Stout’s father, said forgiveness did not come easy.
“I think it was a good verdict,” Stout added.
“I am pleased with the verdict,” said Tanya Brooks, who was William Stout’s fiancee. “Justice was served today.”
Welsh and the defense attorneys presented their closing arguments Monday morning, then Judge Sara Seidle-Patton gave her instructions to the jury.
Sentencing for Rudolph and Johnson is scheduled Aug. 26.