PIKE COUNTY, PA — On Sept. 27,  the Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld the jury verdict that found Lisa Ann Schmidt guilty of drug delivery resulting in death, and conspiracy in the death of an individual in Westfall Township. Schmidt was ultimately sentenced to a period of thirteen to forty years in state prison.

In her appeal, Schmidt claimed that the evidence at trial was insufficient to prove her guilt, the trial court erred in permitting jurors to wear mask during the trial and that her sentence was excessive. In the appellate opinion the Superior Court stated the evidence of record contains sufficient evidence that Schmidt supplied the drugs that resulted in the individual's death.

Similarly, the Superior Court rejected the claim regarding permitting the jurors to wear masks, noting that the Court had already found that permitting jurors to wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic did not inhibit the empaneling of a fair and impartial jury. Finally, the Superior Court rejected the claim that the sentence imposed by Pike County President Judge Gregory H. Chelak was excessive, finding the sentence was within the sentencing guidelines.

Pike County District Attorney Tonkin, who presented the Commonwealth’s case at trial, was pleased with the Superior Court decision. Tonkin noted that the Court has upheld the work done in Pike County to hold those responsible for selling fentanyl and causing the deaths of others.

Schmidt is currently serving her sentence in the state prison located in Muncy, Pennsylvania. She has thirty days to ask the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to hear her case.