FRACKVILLE — The preliminary hearing for Kyle Jacob Merenda, one of the three people who face charges in the death of Alexandria “Alex” Sienkiewicz, was continued Wednesday.
Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, told Merenda, Barnesville, he will not receive another continuance.
“I’m not going to keep continuing your case. You had ample time to get an attorney,” Hale told Merenda during his brief time in court Wednesday.
His preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. May 24 in Hale’s courtroom.
Merenda, 22, has been charged with drug delivery resulting in death, delivery of a controlled substance, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance.
Merenda said he paid an attorney who wanted more money than initially paid to take his case.
“I felt he was just trying to take my money,” he said of the attorney, who did not appear in court.
Hale told Merenda he faces “serious charges and you are facing some really hard time here.”
A man who sat next to Merenda said they needed more time to pay the attorney. If Merenda qualifies, a public defender could be appointed to him.
First Assistant District Attorney John Fegley had no objection to the continuance because of the seriousness of the charges and Merenda’s right to legal representation. Hale warned Merenda what would happen if he did not attend the preliminary hearing. She said a hearing will be held in his absence. It could be held for court and a bench warrant could be issued for Merenda.
Merenda did not comment on the charges.
Melanie Kropp, 24, of Mahanoy City, and Jonathan Seekins, 33, of Coaldale, both were sitting in court Wednesday. Both have also been charged in the death of Sienkiewicz, 23, of Tamaqua, who died from acute fentanyl toxicity April 2, 2016. The Schuylkill County coroner’s office ruled the death a homicide.
Kropp is charged with criminal solicitation-delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of a controlled substance. Seekins is charged with drug delivery resulting in death, criminal solicitation-delivery of a controlled substance and possession of controlled substance.
Both waived their right to a preliminary hearing in March.
John Sienkiewicz, Alex’s father, was in the courtroom Wednesday. Tammy Sienkiewicz, Alex’s mother, was not in the courtroom. Both will attend when the case is heard in county court.
Sienkiewicz said he was disappointed the case has been continued. He will attend the May 24 preliminary hearing.
Alex Sienkiewicz was found with a needle in her arm by her mother when she went to check on her the morning of April 2, 2016. The couple said they went to bed at midnight and didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Tamaqua police responded to their house at 11:09 a.m. April 2 for an overdose. Emergency personnel attempted to revive Alex and she was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale, where she was pronounced dead.
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