MIDDLETOWN — A father and son charged in connection with the overdose death of a Middletown mother of nine have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges, the Journal-News reported Friday.
Jim Boyer, 63, and his son, Keith Boyer, 32, were charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, theft and nine counts of child endangering after Jemita Sanders was found dead in her home on Dec. 13 of an apparent heroin overdose.
The two homeless men allegedly were in Sanders’ house in the 1400 block of Yankee Road when she died. Middletown police said that Sanders may have overdosed and that the Boyers left her to die in her kitchen. She was found by one of her nine children, who called 911.
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Police located the Boyers in Lemon Twp. a few days later and took them into custody.
Jim Boyer’s case was sent to a Butler County grand jury for consideration of the felony charges after a preliminary hearing last month. Keith Boyer’s case was scheduled for preliminary hearing Wednesday in Middletown Municipal Court, but both men entered pleas to misdemeanors.
Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said the felony charges were reviewed by his office and it was determined the evidence did not support the felonies at this time.
Both men pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, petty theft and two counts of endangering children, all misdemeanors, according to Steve Longworth, court administrator.
Judge James Sherron sentenced both men six months in jail with credit for 40 days served. They were placed on probation with specific orders for drug treatment.
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