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Thursday, 18 June 2009 |
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 Staff photo/Mike Burkholder: Brett R. Riley, center, sits with attorneys Eric and Greg Wilson during an arraignment hearing Wednesday. By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Managing Editor
CELINA — A Celina man accused of playing a role in the death of his wife pleaded innocent to the charges Wednesday afternoon.
Flanked by new attorneys Eric and Greg Wilson, Brett R. Riley, 42, 428 E. Livingston St., pleaded innocent to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, first-degree and third-degree felonies, reckless homicide, a third-degree felony, corrupting another with drugs, a first-degree felony, trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, during an arraignment hearing in Mercer County Common Pleas Court. Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Ingraham accepted the pleas and continued Riley’s $500,000 bond with a 10 percent cash provision — which court records show was posted via money order Monday.
Riley is accused of playing a role in the death of his wife Michelle Riley, 36. Riley allegedly secured a fentanyl patch and shared it with his wife. The couple chewed the patch — which is a power narcotic used for around-the-clock pain relief. The patch typically lasts up to 72 hours.
Investigators have said Riley did not have a prescription for the drug — which if ingested rapidly can result in an overdose that can be fatal as a result of hypoventilation. Hypoventilation occurs when ventilation cannot perform the necessary gas exchanges. Overdosing on the drug also can cause fatal respiratory depression.
According to a report from the Celina Police Department, the couple was found unresponsive in their home by their children June 9.
When emergency responders and officers arrived on the scene, they found Michelle Riley dead at the residence and Riley unresponsive, but breathing. Riley was taken to Coldwater Hospital and upon his dismissal last week, he was taken into custody by officers.
A Mercer County grand jury indicted Riley on the charges and he appeared for a bond hearing Friday. At that hearing, Riley indicated he retained James Tesno as his defense counsel.
However during Wednesday’s hearing, the Wilsons said Riley retained them to serve as his counsel.
Ingraham set a pretrial for 10:30 a.m. July 22.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 July 2009 )
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