Two Buffalo suspects pleaded not guilty today to drug and witness intimidation charges linked to a drug case. During arraignments before Erie County Judge Sheila A. DiTullio the prime suspect, David McKithen, 25, of Mineral Springs Road, was ordered to remain jailed without bail and Deyanna Daniels, 23, of Bickford Avenue, was allowed to remain free on the $15,000 bail a lower court judge had earlier imposed.
Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said McKithen, who had originally been slated to go on trial for drug dealing last November is accused of persuading Daniels to post grand jury testimony on a social networking website last year in an effort to intimidate and tamper with prosecution witnesses against him. His lawyers allegedly had provided him with the grand jury testimony.
Now facing a possible 19-years in prison if convicted, McKithen, previously indicted on a drug dealing charge, is now charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree intimidating a witness and two counts of third-degree tampering with a witness. Daniels faces a possible four year prison term if convicted of each count of intimidating and tampering with a witness.
Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said McKithen, who had originally been slated to go on trial for drug dealing last November is accused of persuading Daniels to post grand jury testimony on a social networking website last year in an effort to intimidate and tamper with prosecution witnesses against him. His lawyers allegedly had provided him with the grand jury testimony.
Now facing a possible 19-years in prison if convicted, McKithen, previously indicted on a drug dealing charge, is now charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree intimidating a witness and two counts of third-degree tampering with a witness. Daniels faces a possible four year prison term if convicted of each count of intimidating and tampering with a witness.