Leland Tope, 59, pleaded not guilty Nov. 3 in Greene County Common Pleas Court to four felony counts: involuntary manslaughter, trafficking in heroin, heroin possession and tampering with evidence, according to court records.
Charges against Tope were brought by a secret grand jury indictment last month.
According to the indictment, between July 17-18, the defendant caused the death of Mark Tope “as a proximate result” of the defendant trafficking in heroin.
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The defendant is the victim’s brother, and the alleged crime happened at Mark Tope’s Xenia Twp. home, according to the report by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office.
Mark Tope died of an accidental, multiple-drug overdose, according to the Greene County Coroner’s Office.
The amount of heroin that is alleged to have been trafficked and possessed is less than one gram, according to the indictment.
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Leland Tope was released Oct. 31 from the Greene County Jail after posting 10 percent of a $10,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday.
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