Pocono News Section

Clarks Green Man to Face Trial in Friend's Death

Clarks Green Man to Face Trial in Friend's Death - Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 04:08AM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday May 06 2010
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SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A Lackawanna County man will go to trial in connection with the death of his friend.

Mario Musso of Clarks Green faced a judge and his victim's father in court Thursday afternoon.

For more than an hour, prosecutors laid out their case against the 23-year-old. They say he committed a crime when he gave his friend, Jonathon Sovitch, methadone at his Clarks Green home last July.

Sovitch died from the drug.

"Jonathon Sovitch obviously got this pill from somewhere," Deputy District Attorney Shane Scanlon said. "You heard the testimony today. Mr. Musso made two seperate admissions, one to the police and one to Jonathon Sovitch's father that he had given him the methadone which had proved fatal."

South Abington Township police arrested Musso after a ten-month investigation and help from the Attorney General's Office.

Musso was not charged with murder or even manslaughter because investigators say there was not enough evidence.

"The elements of the crimes that would have to be met in a case such as this just weren't available for us and we didn't want to overcharge," Scanlon said.

Musso's attorney didn't want to talk about the charges, but in court, he raised issues with the police investigation and said Sovitch's death could have been accidental.

Prosecutors say that isn't the case and say these charges should be a warning to everyone...do not share prescription drugs.

"It absolutely should serve as a lesson. You can't share anti-biotics, you can't share pain pills when it's prescribed to you. It's for you!" Scanlon said.

Charges were only filed in this case after a grand jury investigation. Prosecutors think Musso gave his friend the methadone because he was complaining of back pain.