By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG
Staff Writer
January 14, 2009 03:28 am
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PLATTSBURGH — A local teen has been sentenced to probation for possessing painkillers before his girlfriend overdosed and died last year.
Michael Warren recently returned to Plattsburgh City Court to hear his sentence after pleading guilty to one of three charges he was facing in connection with Julia Del Signore's death.
The 19-year-old Plattsburgh resident found Del Signore, 17, of Plattsburgh dead inside his Seth Square apartment in early June after she consumed a range of medications.
Warren was arrested shortly after her death, accused of tampering with evidence and possessing painkillers and a hypodermic needle.
After cooperating with authorities, Warren pleaded guilty to the original misdemeanor drug-possession charge, which has resulted in a sentence of three years of probation.
The case against Scott Miller, who is accused of providing the teens with the painkillers, is still pending in Clinton County Court.
Miller, 29, of Plattsburgh was indicted on several felony and misdemeanor drug charges for allegedly possessing hundreds of painkillers and providing Del Signore with the last pills she consumed before her death.
A grand jury did not find him criminally responsible for Del Signore's death.
Authorities believe he provided the teens with a few of the $65,000 worth of illegal pills he allegedly had hidden inside his apartment.
Miller, who is being represented by attorney Brian Barrett, has pleaded not guilty and is due back in court next week for a conference.
In memory of Del Signore, who was an avid jewelry maker, the North Country Cultural Center for the Arts is planning a Jewels for Julia jewelry auction to benefit the organization's teen program.
The auction is being held from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Cultural Center on Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh.
E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at: avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com
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