District Magistrate Fred Miller of Tyrone held two counts of furnishing malt or brewed beverages to minors into the Blair County Court of Common Pleas yesterday following a preliminary hearing for 22-year-old Tyrone resident Kenneth James Riggleman II.
Riggleman is accused of providing alcohol to 16-year-old Randy Estright of Tyrone, who was killed in an alcohol-related vehicle accident along state Route 453 on May 26.
Further investigation revealed Estright, the driver, and two other minors, who were in the vehicle, all had been drinking at a party in a wooded area north of Tyrone. Police said two of the juveniles that were at the party had acquired the alcoholic beverages from Riggleman, who purchased the alcohol for them at the Logan Beverage store in Tyrone, before they went to the party.
Magistrate Miller said Riggleman and his attorney, Phil Robertson, provided no testimony during the hearing. The case was prosecuted by Blair County Assistant District Attorney Kathy Miller.
The two, third-degree misdemeanor charges warranted a $5,000 unsecured bail amount, which was posted.
Riggleman and his defense attorney now have the opportunity to negotiate a plea agreement with the district attorney’s office or take the case in front of a county jury.
