Schocko sentenced after deadly drug overdose | Local News

SUTTONS BAY — A straight dose of fentanyl killed Kevin Yannett in 2017 — the third person responsible for putting the drugs in his hands will head to prison nearly two years later.

Angela Rose Schocko faced charges after Leelanau County prosecutors accused her of directing her daughter, Erin Shaunea Grant, and Preston Weaver, Grant’s boyfriend, to deliver heroin to 31-year-old Yannet on Nov. 22, 2017.

The suspected heroin really was straight fentanyl — a potentially deadly synthetic opioid. Yannett took it, overdosed and died shortly after the drug deal. Thirteenth Circuit Court Judge Kevin Elsenheimer sent Schocko to prison for at least 23 months for her role in his death Monday.

Leelanau County Prosecutor Joe Hubbell said Elsenheimer issued a sentence toward the top of recommended guidelines on the tampering with evidence and delivery of a controlled substance charge.

“I think the court recognized her involvement in this whole scheme,” Hubbell said.

Investigators said Schocko ran a criminal enterprise, dealing drugs in Leelanau and Benzie counties. Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians Tribal Police officials accused Schocko of six drug deals, according to court records.

Witnesses claim she drove the region with Ronald Wells making drugs deals.

A meeting between Schocko, Weaver, Grant and Yannett the night before his death served the crux of Hubbell’s argument. They met shortly after Schocko stole three bags of drugs from Wells that were connected to two more overdoses. Both people were revived, Hubbell said.

He previously doubted whether anyone knew they were delivering pure fentanyl to Yannett.

Schocko pleaded guilty to delivery of suboxone and tampering with evidence charges March 25 through a plea deal that dropped the original charges, including delivery of a controlled substance causing death. That felony charge could have put her in a prison cell for the rest of her life.

A lack of clear testimony in some areas concerned Hubbell and he doubted whether he could secure a conviction on the original charges with the spotty witnesses.

Prosecutors let Grant and Weaver both plead guilty to delivery of a controlled substance charges and dropped delivery causing death counts. Weaver also pleaded guilty to evidence tampering — Hubbell suspects he hid the remaining drugs when an ambulance and police officer arrived after the drug deal at the scene of Yannett’s death.

Grant and Weaver went to jail or prison on the charges.

Ronald Wells was convicted on drug dealing charges after his Grand Traverse County arrest.

Schocko’s attorney, Kyle Trevas, declined comment.

Yannett’s death appears to be the first opiate overdose death in the county, Hubbell said. He worked to start a substance abuse coalition shortly after he began working the case.

“I’m hoping it brought awareness of the problem we have in our community and brought a determination … that people who are dealing drugs will be held accountable,” Hubble said.