Hepler

ELKINS — A Randolph County man is facing a felony neglect charge after allegedly overdosing in a bathroom while taking care of a juvenile.

Brandon Edward Hepler, 39, is charged with one count of child neglect with risk of serious bodily injury or death, a felony. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $15,000 cash-only bond set by Randolph County Magistrate Michael Dyer.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Trooper Thomas J. Sclimenti with the West Virginia State Police, on Dec. 4, Sclimenti received a call to assist Randolph County EMS with an overdose on Highland Street. The caller stated that someone was “in the bathroom overdosing and the door was locked so they couldn’t get in.”

Upon arrival, Sclimenti met with a female witness who stated that a male subject was in the downstairs bathroom and that she was going to take her child somewhere else, the complaint states. Sclimenti forced entry into the bathroom and placed the male subject, later identified as Hepler, into the recovery position. EMS then entered and began providing medical care to Hepler.

Sclimenti allegedly observed two uncapped syringes in the bathroom, as well as a spoon containing what appeared to be a “liquid narcotic substance,” the complaint states. Hepler allegedly informed EMS that he was using fentanyl.

The female witness returned and spoke to Sclimenti, stating that her child was “being cared for by (Hepler) at the time” while she was out, the complaint states. The child allegedly called the female witness and said that Hepler was in the bathroom “making strange noises.” The female witness then arrived to find Hepler locked in the bathroom “making a gurgling sound.”

When Hepler regained consciousness, he allegedly did not wish to go to the hospital, against the recommendation of EMS, the complaint states. Sclimenti detained Hepler, but as Sclimenti was preparing the safety equipment to handle the suspected fentanyl, Hepler then stated that did want to go to the hospital. Sclimenti released Hepler into the custody of EMS.

Sclimenti writes that, in his knowledge and experience, fentanyl is “a highly dangerous substance that can lead to death from contact with exposed skin.”

“The use of this narcotic in a shared space with a child could lead to contamination placing the child at risk of death from overdose,” Sclimenti wrote in the criminal complaint. “The utilization of this substance while the sole caretaker of a juvenile additionally led to the inability to provide supervision of said juvenile.”

According to the complaint, Sclimenti collected the narcotics and paraphernalia for evidence and allegedly noted “a small clear bottle of a substance” similar to the liquid found inside one of the syringes laying on the bathroom floor. Sclimenti allegedly collected the bottle, two syringes and a spoon of suspected “narcotic liquid.”