Reading man sentenced for delivering drugs that caused overdose death

A Reading man was sentenced today to 6 to 15 years in state prison for selling the fentanyl-laced heroin that caused the overdose death of an Exeter Township man last summer.

Kevin A. Rauch, 53, of the 800 block of George Street, pleaded guilty before Judge M. Theresa Johnson to drug delivery resulting in death for the Aug. 22 death of Evan Hollenbach, 28.

Rauch received credit for 211 days and was ordered to pay $1,580 in restitution to the victim’s father.

Hollenbach’s mother spoke about her baby boy’s charm and wonderful smile, saying that she knows she must somehow learn to forgive Rauch even though she doesn’t want to. Rauch chose to remain silent when given a chance to speak.

Before imposing sentence, Johnson noted Rauch’s history of drug-trafficking convictions.

“I think it’s quite honestly pretty cowardly that you couldn’t even turn around and apologize,” the judge said to Rauch. “You’ve been in this game long enough and now your game has caused at least one death.”

Rauch admitted that he met Hollenbach in the parking lot of the Family Dollar in the 400 block of West Douglass Street on Aug. 21 and sold the victim a bundle of heroin for $35 .

Exeter Township police responded to a report of an unresponsive man shortly before 5:30 a.m. the next day and found an unconscious Hollenbach in his home.

Hollenbach was taken to Reading Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:05 p.m. An autopsy determined that the man died of acute heroin and fentanyl toxicity.

Authorities analyzed Hollenbach’s cellphone records and determined that he met with Rauch the previous night to purchase heroin. Rauch cooperated with the investigation and admitted to police that he suspected the heroin he sold Hollenbach contained fentanyl.

Contact Stephanie Weaver: 610-371-5042 or sweaver@readingeagle.com.