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Daniel Fernando Pineda, of the 200 block of North Plum Street, Lancaster was apprehended on Thursday, July 21, after a warranted search and seizure of his cellphone tied him to the victim, authorities say.
The Lancaster City Bureau of Police had been called to a report of an unconscious male to a home in the 800 block of North Shippen Street around 5 p.m. on April 7, according to the DA's release.
The man's accidental death was caused by "acute fentanyl toxicity" the Lancaster County coroner's office declared at 6:19 p.m.
An iPhone at the scene connected the men through Facebook and text messages, authorities say.
Multiple messages included negotiations and purchase arrangements for heroin/fentanyl, according to the release.
Pineda was found during a traffic stop on April 28, and a later search of his vehicle yielded "two white wax paper sleeves containing suspected heroin/fentanyl under the front passenger seat where Pineda was seated," as stated in the release.
At least 12 deleted messages were found on Pineda's black Samsung phone when it was seized on May 4— including arranging for the purchase of heroin/fentanyl before, on, and after April 6, according to the release.
Pineda has denied that he knows the victim.
He has been charged with felonies for Drug Delivery Resulting In Death, Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver, and Criminal Use Of Communication Facility, according to his latest court docket.
Pineda has a lengthy criminal history and has served prison time for selling drugs in the past, court records show.
He has been held in the Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $500,000 in bail and his preliminary hearing has been scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Andrew T. LeFever at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 4, according to court documents.
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