29 years for part in overdose death

A Bonne Terre man has been sentenced to 29 years in prison in connection with a 2012 overdose death.

Circuit Court Judge Kenneth W. Pratte followed the plea bargain of Michael Strnad, 26, of Bonne Terre, and sentenced him to 29 years in prison for two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of sale of methadone.

According to court records, Shawen Bunch, 26, died April 7, 2012, at his home in Park Hill of an apparent drug overdose. During the investigation four individuals were questioned and admitted selling Bunch various drugs during the week of his death.

According to the probable cause statement Bunch’s roommate – who has not been charged – said when he got up he looked into Bunch’s room and saw foam coming out of his mouth. He took Bunch’s young son out of the room and called for help.

Days later police seized Bunch’s cell phone which had various text messages to and from individuals.

When interviewed weeks after the death, the roommate said on April 5 or April 6 Bunch drove the roommate and Larry Dale Stotler Jr. to Bonne Terre to buy methadone from Strnad. He said Bunch knew Strnad. He said Stotler and Bunch both bought eight methadone pills from Strnad.

Stotler relayed the same story. He said Bunch also drove them to Desloge where all three men bought Xanax pills from Vernon Logan Jr. on April 4. He said Bunch bought 10 Xanax pills while the other two men bought five each.

Strnad admitted selling methadone to Bunch during the week Bunch died. He said he only sold five or six pills to Bunch. He said he got the methadone from his girlfriend’s mother. The mother said Strnad stole the pills from her and gave the remainder back after Bunch died.

Logan admitted to selling 20 pills to Stotler on April 5 or April 6. He told police he won’t sell any more of his medication because it has now hurt someone.

Joshua Horton admitted to selling Xanax to Bunch the week he died.

Rebecca Mathias admitted she sold Xanax to Bunch about three months before he died. She said Bunch was at her home the night before he died but she did not give him drugs then.

Logan has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sale of Hydrocodone and sale of Xanax and for violating the probation he received for failure to return rental property.

Horton, Stotler, and Mathias still have charges pending.

In other unrelated cases, Justin Gaines, 26, of Farmington, was sentenced to four years in prison for statutory sodomy. He was accused of having sexual contact with a child under the age of 12.

Joseph Kern, 51, of Bonne Terre, was sentenced to seven years in prison for possession of a controlled substance.

Cassie M. McClain, 29, of Leadwood, was sentenced to seven years in prison for violating the probation she received for possession of meth.

Harold J. Moss, 39, of Park Hills, was sentenced to two years in prison for violating the probation he received for failure to pay child support.

Sonya Short, 28, of Columbia, was sentenced to seven years in prison for violating the probation she received for tampering with a motor vehicle.

Thomas William Cantrell, 52, of Bonne Terre, was sentenced to seven years in prison for receiving stolen property and violating the probation he received for stealing.

Placed on five years of supervised probation were Jodi Bruce Nations, 31, of Park Hills, for DWI; Tracey Hulsey, 50, of Desloge, for DWI; Timothy James Conley, 35, of Bonne Terre, for forgery; and Janie Antoinette Kell, 42, of Park Hills, for possession of meth.

William Hurtz pleaded guilty to fraudulently attempting to obtain a controlled substance. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Amanda McCarver was ordered to complete St. Francois County Drug Court for two counts of possession of a controlled substance.