Braddock man waives charges in Peters Township fatal overdose
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A Braddock man will stand trial on accusations he sold a man from Peters Township drugs that led to a fatal overdose.
William Dewayne Hockett, 23, appeared before District Judge James Saieva at the Washington County Courthouse Friday morning for a preliminary hearing. Hockett chose to waive his right to a hearing and send his charges to the common pleas court.
Hockett faces felonies of drug delivery resulting in death, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communication facility.
Peters Township Police filed charges in October following an investigation into the death of Vincent Michael “Vinny” Knight, 21, on Aug. 28.
According to the criminal complaint, that evening police found Knight dead in a bathroom of his home in the 100 block of Windermere Court. Police found empty stamp bags of suspected heroin near him.
A toxicology report later showed that Knight had fentanyl in his system, according to the complaint.
Peters police searched Knight’s phone and found conversations with Hockett where they arranged for Knight to purchase heroin the evening of Aug. 27.
According to the complaint, investigators also found that Knight had paid Hockett through Cash App.
Hockett has been incarcerated in the Washington County jail without bond since his arrest in November. On Friday, Saieva adjusted his bail to a $25,000 straight cash bond.
A date for Hockett’s formal arraignment has not been scheduled.