Rowlett grandmother Barbara Blanton Sims pled guilty Tuesday to a federal charge of drug possession with intent to distribute after being accused of selling cheese heroin out of her home in Rowlett.
The 60-year-old woman could be sentenced to 40 years in prison and fined $2 million. Her sentencing is scheduled Dec. 28.
The above photo of Timothy Salahi provided by the Rockwall County Jail
The young Rockwall man currently awaiting trial on May 11 for providing the cheese heroin which killed former Rockwall-Heath High School student Paige Elliot was arrested again and sent to the Rockwall County jail earlier this month on family violence-related assault charges.
Timothy Salahi, 19, was arrested March 11 by Rockwall Police shortly after he allegedly stuck a family member in the face with his clenched fist.
According to police reports, the complainant suffered redness and swelling on the face.
After the arrest, Rockwall County District Judge Brett Hall ruled the bond on the negligent homicide case as insufficient and raised the bond from $25,000 to $50,000 for Salahi.
Police said that Salahi had two prior family violence-related charges.
It is not known whether he is still in jail, or if he posted bond and was released.
In February Salahi pled guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the death of Elliot, a state felony with a penalty of 180 days to two years of state jail time, plus a fine.
But after a plea bargain was reached between Salahi’s attorney, the Elliot family and Rockwall District Attorney’s Office, Judge Hall rejected the plea and ordered the case to trial, stating that they had a responsibility to the public considering the serious nature of the case.
More details will be provided as we obtain them.
Timothy Salahi, who pled guilty Feb. 9 to criminally-negligent homicide
The trial date for the young Rockwall man who has pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the “cheese” related death of 16-year-old Rockwall-Heath high school student Paige Elliot has been set for May 11 by 382nd District Judge Bret Hall in Rockwall.
Timothy Salahi was 18 at the time of her death, Sept. 16, 2007.
Both families had agreed to a two-year probation plea bargain Feb. 17, which would have allowed Salahi to avoid jail time, but it was rejected by Judge Hall citing that he had a responsibility to the public.
The charge is a state jail felony, with a maximum penalty of two years in state jail and the possibility of a $1,500 fine.
Salahi is currently free on bond as he awaits the trial.
Neither family will comment on the case.
Paige Elliot (center) pictured with friends on the Paiges Memory Space page at My Space.com
Rockwall High School sophomore Paige Elliot’s death in 2007, due to an overdose of cheese heroin, was a terrible tragedy.
But it seems another one is that 19-year-old Timothy Salahi will only have to spend two years or less in jail and pay a fine as punishment for furnishing the drug.
True, she did choose to take the cheese, Xanax, marijuana, cocaine and Ecstacy found in her body during the autopsy.
But she was only a 16-year-old kid, who just three years before had suffered the breakup of her family due to divorce.
Consequently, this young lady was not healthy emotionally, and Salahi – although young himself – certainly knew better. It seems to me that Salahi preyed on her, taking advantage of her weaknesses.
If we truly want to send a message to drug dealers, and want to stop the distribution of cheese, shouldn’ t we adults figure out a way to punish drug dealers with more than two years in jail?
He’ll likely not even serve that long and be back on the streets.
Somebody needs to make sure Salahi never touches drugs again. Wonder if he has any younger brothers and sisters whom he’s influenced? What do his parents have to say?
The whole story obviously still hasn’t been told, but clearly needs to be.
Paige Elliot (left) pictured with a friend on Paiges Memory Space at MySpace.com
Nineteen-year-old Timothy Salahi from Rockwall plead guilty yesterday to criminally negligent homicide in the “cheese” heroin overdose death of 16-year-old Rockwall High School student Paige Elliot in 2007.
Salahi entered his plea in the Rockwall felony court of District Judge Brett Hall at the County Courthouse.
The charge against Salahi is a state jail felony punishable by six months to two years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000.
According to police, Salahi bought cheese heroin and Xanax for Elliot in September 2007, and the pair went to his house in the 1400 block of Greenbrook Drive in Rockwall.
Salahi later found the girl unconscious on his sofa. She was pronounced dead at Lake Pointe Medical Center.
Toxicology tests revealed a fatal cocktail of cheese heroin, Ecstasy, Xanax, cocaine and marijuana in her system.
Judge Hall ordered a pre-sentencing investigation and scheduled sentencing for Feb. 17.
Victim impact statements may be heard at that time.
Posted in cheese heroin, Uncategorized
Tagged cheese heroin, Judge Brett Hall, Paige Elliot, Paige Elliott, Timothy Salahi
Rockwall Rocks! 