Mount Carmel man gets 5 years in state prison in manslaughter case

Francis Scarcella, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·2 min read

Apr. 29—SUNBURY — A Mount Carmel man will spend up to five years in state prison for involuntary manslaughter after providing drugs that killed his 15-year-old brother.

Christopher Payne, originally charged with felony drug delivery resulting in death stemming from a 2023 incident that claimed the life of Ricky Payne, of Hickory Street, appeared in Northumberland County Court Monday by video from the Northumberland County Jail.

Christopher Payne was tearful during a victim impact statement issued by a relative on Monday, telling Judge Michael Toomey he was sorry for what he did.

Christopher Payne was charged as well as Victoria Mowry, of Centre Street, Ashland, Schuylkill County. He appeared on April 9 at her hearing saying he and the woman would drive to Philadelphia to pick up the drugs and often use them before returning to Northumberland County.

Mowry is taking her case to trial. She is represented by public defender Cory Leshner.

In the April 9 hearing, Leshner sought to dismiss the felony charges, but Judge Hugh Jones ruled after hearing testimony there was enough evidence to proceed with the case.

Jones did dismiss charges of criminal conspiracy but said the drug delivery resulting in death, delivery of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter would head to trial.

Mount Carmel police say Mowry is responsible for the fentanyl used in the overdose death of Ricky Payne of Hickory Street.

During the April 9 hearing, Christopher Payne admitted to getting a deal from the district attorney's office to plead to the misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter in exchange for his testimony against Mowry. Christopher Payne testified he would purchase the drugs from Mowry and that his brother, Ricky Payne, used them the night he overdosed and was found dead.

Mount Carmel police say they discovered through search warrants that Christopher Payne was deleting social media messages to Mowry.

Northumberland County Assistant District Attorney David Albertson is prosecuting the case against Mowry.

Christopher Payne told Toomey on Monday he was sorry for everything and that nothing he could do could bring back his brother. Another family member testified she was deeply saddened by the situation. She said she knows Christopher Payne made a mistake and that her life was changed forever because of the incident.