ASHLAND — Bond was set at $500,000 Monday morning for a Mansfield man charged in connection to the Feb. 19 death of a 26-year-old man in Mifflin Township.
Joseph F. Doering, 39, appeared Monday morning before Ashland County Common Pleas Court Magistrate Emily Bates via video from the Ashland County Jail for a bond setting.
Bates also ordered Doering to have no contact with the alleged victim’s family in the case and wear electronic monitoring, if released.
Doering was charged on Feb. 20 with reckless homicide, a third-degree felony, and possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony. The charges are related to the death of Brandon N. Sheaffer, of Mifflin.
Doering requested court-appointed counsel during Monday’s bond setting. Bates appointed Attorney Benjamin Zushin to represent Doering in his case.
Ashland County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Metcalf appeared on behalf of the state Monday to share the state’s opinion regarding Doering’s bond.
Metcalf told Bates the state requested a $500,000 cash bond, no contact with the victim’s family and electronic monitoring of Doering if he is released from the county jail.
“This defendant (Doering) was engaged in methamphetamine use, as well as other risky behavior with the victim (Sheaffer) in this matter,” Metcalf said. “Ultimately, we believe the defendant’s behavior contributed to and/or caused the death of the victim in this matter.”
Metcalf said Doering has one prior conviction for possession of methamphetamine, which he was previously sent to prison for.
Doering declined to make a statement regarding his bond during Monday’s bond setting.
Bates set an initial appearance hearing for Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. by video. Should Doering post bond before the hearing, he must report to the Ashland County Common Pleas Court for the hearing.
Ashland County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher R. Tunnell announced the charges against Doering on Friday afternoon.
The charges state that Doering “recklessly caused the death of Sheaffer during an incident in which the parties were allegedly engaged in methamphetamine use and other high-risk behavior,” the release from Tunnell said.
Detectives reportedly discovered methamphetamine and additional evidence inside the 39 Maine St. residence during the investigation.
Doering was taken into custody Friday afternoon and is currently incarcerated at the Ashland County Jail.
An Ashland County grand jury is expected to review the matter for consideration of any additional charges at a later date, according to the release from the prosecuting attorney.
Sheaffer was found ‘unconscious and unresponsive’
According to the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, local emergency services were dispatched to 39 Maine St. at 5:04 p.m. on Feb. 19 in reference to an unresponsive person.
First responders arrived on the scene and located Sheaffer, who was lying unconscious and unresponsive inside the residence. Life-saving measures were initiated, but Sheaffer did not survive.
The Ashland County Coroner’s Office had not determined the official cause and manner of death as of Friday afternoon. The investigation remains ongoing.