BERLIN– A Berlin man convicted in 2016 of involuntary manslaughter after supplying heroin to another man prior to a fatal overdose had that conviction reversed this week by a state appeals court.
In May 2016, Robert Skinkle, now 32, of Berlin, was found guilty in Worcester County Circuit Court of possession with intent to distribute heroin, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment for supplying heroin to another man who fatally overdosed in November 2015. Skinkle was sentenced to 16 years for the heroin distribution count, all but 10 years of which were suspended. He was also sentenced to 10 years for the involuntary manslaughter count, which was merged with the distribution count to be served concurrently.
During evidence presented at trial, Skinkle’s phone records revealed a series of text messages between Skinkle and the victim in the days prior to the fatal overdose. Skinkle called that evidence into question when he appealed the involuntary manslaughter conviction.
This week, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals concurred, reversing the involuntary manslaughter conviction and remanding the case back to circuit court for re-sentencing on the remaining counts.
“The appellant presents one question for review,” the opinion reads. “Was the evidence legally sufficient to sustain the appellant’s gross negligence involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment convictions? For the reasons that follow, we shall reverse the appellant’s convictions for involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment and remand for resentencing on the remaining convictions.”