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Woman Jailed For Using Minor To Facilitate Drug Deals

WARREN, Pa. — A Jamestown woman will spend a minimum of three years in state prison for using a minor to facilitate drug deals.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Renee L. Rogers, 35, was arrested following an investigation that started when a 12-year-old female student disclosed that Rogers was making her be present at and assist in drug sales.

Police were called by Warren County Children and Youth Services to conduct an interview at the juvenile’s school, where she told police that “on multiple occasions, (Rogers) would make her be present for a drug deal of morphine, and then make the juvenile hold onto the money she received for the morphine until they returned home.”

The juvenile said during the interview that Rogers told her the reason she wanted her to hold the money after drug deals was because if the money was ‘marked’ by police, the juvenile would be at fault because she had it on her person.

The juvenile recounted more than one drug deal that she had been made to participate in: At locations including the south end of the bike/hike trail and in an alleyway outside McDonald’s.

During a transaction on Sept. 23, 2018, the juvenile told police, Rogers made her “get out of bed and walk with her” to the location, where the juvenile stated they met the same man she’d met during other drug deals, and that “Rogers sold to him at his vehicle.”

Her attorney, Chief Public Defender John Parroccini, noted that Rogers is working and is a “valued employee,” as her boss drove her to court.

He asked for a low-end standard range sentence as the “standard range is rather severe.”

District Attorney Rob Greene countered by saying an aggravated sentence might be more appropriate.

Referring to Rogers as a “wicked step-mother,” Greene recounted her conduct and noted that the minor involved seems to be doing well.

Hammond told Rogers that her motivation was that “she gets caught, you will be in the clear.”

Rogers tried to interrupt.

“(I) gave you a chance (to speak),” Hammond said. “Don’t interrupt me again. It’s not a good idea.”

He addressed the minor victim, who was in the courtroom.

“Young lady,” he said, “I want you to know you did nothing wrong.”

He said the “guidelines clearly call for a state sentence” and said the sentences would not run concurrently as that would be a “bonus” for using the minor.

Rogers was then sentenced to 24 to 72 months incarceration in state prison with credit for 135 days time served, submission of a DNA sample, compliance with drug and alcohol treatment recommendations and $1,475 in fines and fees on a count of possession with intent to deliver as well as 12 to 36 months incarceration, a $300 fine and a no contact order with the victim or the victim’s family or guardians on a count of corruption of minors.

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