Waynesboro man tied to two overdose deaths to go on trial for one this week
CHAMBERSBURG - A Waynesboro man will go on trial this week for charges related to his role leading an alleged drug-trafficking operation that brought large amounts of heroin into the area and is linked to the death of a Chambersburg man.
Charles Lynch III, 30, is scheduled for a four-day jury trial, Monday through Thursday before Judge Jeremiah Zook in courtroom two in the Franklin County Courthouse.
He is charged with operating a corrupt organization, conspiring with others in the operation of a corrupt organization, drug delivery resulting in death, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, possession with intent to deliver heroin, conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver heroin and criminal use of a communication facility, court records show.
Five other people face some of the same or related charges. Police filed charges in the spring of 2017.
Support local journalism:Here is a special offer for new subscribers
Pennsylvania State Police and the Franklin County Drug Task Force conducted an investigation into the organization's alleged large-scale trafficking of heroin into the Franklin County area. This investigation included surveillance, utilizing tracking devices, conducting controlled buys, analyzing cell phones and conducting multiple interviews with confidential informants, cooperating defendants and other people involved in the use or distribution of heroin in the area.
The organization is believed to be linked to the death of Mark Charles Keefer, who overdosed on heroin and died at the age of 47 on Nov. 5, 2016, police said.
Organization required regular trips to Philadelphia
Police alleged Lynch and his girlfriend, Susan Hollabaugh, who was also charged in the case, made weekly trips to the Philadelphia area to allegedly buy heroin to bring back to the county with an average street value of $20,000. The drugs were then stored in a safe located in the couple's home in Fayetteville.
Lynch and Hollabaugh would “front” the drug to two of the other people police allege were involved, Richard Danzberger and Kevin Paul, who would then distribute it in Franklin County. The proceeds from the sales would eventually flow back to Lynch and Hollabaugh, and once enough money was accumulated, the two would go back to Philadelphia to purchase more drugs, police said.
However, Lynch's arrest in November 2015 in Ohio for possession with intent to deliver heroin changed the operation. Danzberger was also arrested around the same time for the same charge in Franklin County.
More:Chambersburg man charged in deadly overdose at recovery center
More:Greencastle pair charged with murder in overdose death of 3-year-old girl
Lynch continued to direct the organization using phones at the Franklin County Jail. Hollabaugh continued making the weekly trips to Philadelphia, along with Kevin Paul, and Kevin and Kelly Paul would sell the heroin, police said.
The organization continued to operate like this until police intercepted Hollabaugh and Kevin Paul on Dec. 2, 2016 while they were returning from Philadelphia with a large quantity of heroin.
Hollabaugh is still awaiting trial in two cases, one connected to her role in the organization and the other to her December 2016 arrest, court records show.
Danzberger is still awaiting trial in his two cases.
Kevin Paul pleaded guilty to corrupt organizations and was sentenced to a minimum of 18 months in July 2017, with credit for about six months already served. He was serving that sentence concurrently with a similar sentence connected to a guilty plea in his December 2016 case.
Kelly Paul pleaded guilty to corrupt organizations and was sentenced to nine months in county jail (with credit for four months already served) followed by 51 months of standard supervision.
The fifth person charged in the case, Brandi Bechtel, is still making her way through the court system.
Lynch also charged in previous overdose death
Lynch has been charged in a number of drug-related cases up through just this summer, when he was charged in connection with the 2015 overdose death of a 21-year-old Chambersburg man.
He is charged with drug delivery resulting in death and manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, both felonies, stemming from the Sept. 7, 2015, death of Rudy Barbour.
Police used text messages and witnesses to allege Lynch provided the heroin that killed Barbour.
This case is making its way through the court system.
Another person, Kathleen Weaver, is also charged in the case. She initially faced the same charges as Lynch, but court records indicate her charges have since been changed to conspiracy-level counts.
In another case, Lynch was found not guilty of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver and criminal use of a communication device in November 2017. Police accused of him of committing that crime in June 2014.