Attorney for man charged with drug-related death requests funds for own investigation

A Washington County judge approved a $6,000 expenditure for experts to aid the defense of a Philadelphia man charged with providing the drug used in a fatal overdose, as well as drug-dealing in Deemston.
Michael Martin, 35, is accused of providing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of Stacey Greenawalt, 30, on Dec. 6, 2016, at the home of her father on Buckingham Road in Fredericktown.
At the request of Martin’s court-appointed attorney, Gary Graminski, Judge Gary Gilman approved $2,000 apiece for the work of an investigator, a toxicologist and a forensic pathologist to prepare reports that could potentially be used at trial.
Gilman also heard testimony from Trooper Kevin DiJuliis about a search warrant, signed by Judge John DiSalle, that was served two days after Greenawalt’s death at what the trooper called “a drug house” at 2430 Martindale Road in Deemston.
Greenawalt was referred to as Martin’s girlfriend during the proceeding Thursday.
Martin and several other people were inside the Martindale Road home, from which 24 items, including drugs, were seized. Police said Martin had $420 in his shirt pocket.
A bag of individually wrapped white “rocks” of crack cocaine were “just below Mr. Martin in the kitchen,” DiJuliis testified.
Graminiski argued that except for the cash, nothing else, including drugs seized in the raid, was found on Martin. He asked how police focused on the Martindale Road residence.
DeJuliis said undercover officers sifted through trash that had been placed outside for collection and also had the home under surveillance.
Graminski contends Martin was not a resident of the Martindale Road address because he lived in Philadelphia.
DiJuliis testified Martin had an identification card with what he believed was a Philadelphia address.
Graminski also attempted to question the trooper as to why others who were present when the home was raided were not charged with conspiracy.
Gilman sustained Assistant District Attorney Jerome Moschetta’s objection that it was irrelevant.
Graminski also hopes to suppress evidence obtained from Martin’s cellphone, but that aspect of the case will be handled later.
Martin is being held in Allegheny County Jail without bond on a host of charges, including those related to Greenawalt’s death, drugs and firearms.