Gloversville man admits role in methadone death
By RODNEY MINOR, The Leader-HeraldJOHNSTOWN - A Gloversville man is expected to serve 2 1/2 years in prison for giving his girlfriend methadone, which played a role in her death in May 2007.
Joseph Labadia, 27, a former resident of the Fulton County YMCA, pleaded guilty Friday in Fulton County Court to one count of fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Labadia will be sentenced Nov. 17 to a prison term of 2 1/2 years.
Labadia provided methadone to 33-year-old Stephanie Hudson at her Washington Street apartment on May 19, 2007. An autopsy attributed Hudson's death to cardiac arrhythmia brought on by the combined effects of the methadone and an anti-depressant that she was prescribed.
Under state law, giving someone drugs for free and selling them are treated the same way.
Fulton County District Attorney Louise K. Sira said the plea agreement and subsequent sentence was appropriate. She said the drug sale charge has a harsher sentence than criminally negligent homicide, 1 1/3 to four years, which Labadia also was charged with. The plea agreement on the drug charge means Labadia could have two years of post-release supervision, which was not available under the other charges, she said.
Police said Labadia had a prescription for methadone, which is used to ease the withdrawal symptoms of heroin addicts because it can mimic some of the effects of heroin.
Sira said Labadia was in a methadone program and was given one dose per day. However, Labadia had an extra dose available because members of the program are given two doses for the weekend, she said. Sira said both Labadia and Hudson had a long history of drug abuse, and by all accounts, Hudson was looking for drugs on the day she died.
Police said when Hudson exhibited an adverse physical reaction to the methadone, Labadia failed to seek medical attention for her.
Police said DNA from both Hudson and Labadia was found on the hypodermic needle found at the scene.
Sira said the grand jury that indicted him determined that Hudson injected herself with the methadone.
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Skyler
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10-03-08 6:37 PM
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What amazes me is that everybody seems to know what Stephanie was thinking,doing,wanting to do and who is to blame..... WOW!!! First did anyone consider that this guy gave her something that ultimately caused her death and he's getting 2.5 yrs? Fungazi please contact me if you read this I also knew Stephanie and your right she was a great person.
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LHReader
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09-23-08 8:55 AM
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Some people just get to heated by anothers' comment, especially when they make sense. I am always eager to read other views, on this article a few members made me look at it differently, I appreciated that. fUNGAZI-The language and the manner of which your comment was written is childish and uncalled for. This is an example of why we are unable to comment on other sections. I truly hope it doesn't expand.
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LoyalSocialist
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09-23-08 8:35 AM
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Thus why the Letters to the Editors do not have a comment section anymore.
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sppedracer
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09-23-08 7:12 AM
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its always easy to blame every one else
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fUNGAZI
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09-23-08 3:09 AM
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You are a scumbag. Go to hell. There's my character! And for your information, if she lived in this crappy city full of judgmental, hypocritical people like yourself, i would have never mentioned her name. Go ahead and post a reponse, but i wont be back to read it. I am so sick of reading the b u l l s h i t comments you always leave. Get a life!!!!
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InnocentParty
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09-22-08 7:36 PM
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Correction to my last post... In the first line, "your" should have been "you're". fungazi, what disgusting comments might you be referring to? This is one of the mildest boards I've seen on here. In my opinion (which I'm entitled to), YOU are disgusting for posting the dead woman's daughter's name! The name is a unique one and for you to disclose it on here just shows your character. Fact is, Stephanie didn't kick the habit. Fact is, Stephanie apparently didn't put her daughter first. Fact is, Stephanie is no longer on this earth and for that, fact is, Stephanie is as much to blame as anyone.
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fUNGAZI
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09-22-08 5:17 PM
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I met Stephanie when she first moved to Gloversville in 2000. She had a long history of drug use, but was sober at the time. When she was sober, she was the type of person who would give you the shirt of her back. It wasn't until she had her daughter Waiverly that her drug problem resurfaced. The doctors gave her a persription for loratabs, which was all it took. Stephanie had problems, but she was an aswesome person. I knew Stephanie very well, and i can guarantee that this guy did not force her to take the methodone. I don't think any of you know hard it is to kick a ****** habit. When i decided to get sober back in 2004 i begged Stephanie to do the same. The urge to get high haunts you all day everyday. Well anyways, Stephanie was by no means a saint, but she was a very caring person. All of you people who leave these disgusting comments should be ashamed of yourselves.
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InnocentParty
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09-22-08 3:30 PM
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I understand where your coming from LHReader. My only meaning was that if she wasn't thinking clearly, by the same virtue, neither was the boyfriend. It is a sad situation and one can only hope that though it's too late to save her, the boyfriend will get the treatment he needs while incarcerated.
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dublinbret
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09-22-08 3:10 PM
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think of it as an "assisted suicide". LH Reader, you need to fix blame on where blame is due. You should actually "read" the article before you comment. They both had a "long history of drug abuse". I'm sure that you realize that drug abuse significantly increases your chance of premature death. So, you want to send the other doper to prison for giving her drugs?? I agree that he should be held responsible for possession, but nothing more. Resident69, what do you mean by "more of them", and what does it have to do with other residents of the Y? Hasty generalizations, stereotyping, judgemental, pretentious statements are unbecoming. Maybe you are "one of them" (the bigot/racist, narrowminded type)
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LHReader
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09-22-08 2:30 PM
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For me,I just hate to see what it can do to a person, and I feel so helpless in their regard. It's a waiting game just got to hope and pray the meds work.
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LoyalSocialist
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09-22-08 2:19 PM
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Depression is something that has been blown WAY out of proportion, I myself have been diagnosed as being "clinically depressed" and still have not gone into the world of medication because there are theraputic ways of dealing with depression. Also, it does not mean she was "depressed", anti-depressants can be used for all types of mental health diagnoses, from PTSD to Bi-Polar.
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LHReader
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09-22-08 2:04 PM
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fair enough IP, I suppose you're right. It's a very sad case no matter what. She paid with her life, now he's paying in prison. What got me on the kick with the depression part , is I have a family member who suffers from that disease, very unfortunate.
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InnocentParty
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09-22-08 1:57 PM
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Why would you put more blame on him? With all due respect LHReader, you first state, "fact is if she was suffering from depression her thoughts may not have been most clear at the time taken." If you read the article, BOTH were under the influence. If you're going to say she wasn't thinking clearly, the same argument could be used in the boyfriend's defense, no? I'm not saying the guy isn't a slime ball for giving up his own prescribed drugs but both are equally to blame. Her for continuing to use and him for helping her.
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LHReader
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09-22-08 1:46 PM
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I know what methadone is LS, fact is if she was suffering from depression her thoughts may not have been most clear at the time taken. In a normal mind frame you'd be correct, but I do place the majority of the blame on him especially for knowing her condition.
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resident69
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09-22-08 1:44 PM
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Great, Just Great!...who else is living at the "Y" and doing the same thing? Plus, they want to import more of them into this area.
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LoyalSocialist
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09-22-08 1:21 PM
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Methadone is different than crystal meth...and she was as much at fault because she wanted to take it. They both should of known that its not a good idea.
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LHReader
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09-22-08 12:12 PM
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Such a nice boyfriend he was huh? She was already suffering from depression and he gives her meth... what a jerk. He definitely deserves time in prison do to his involvement.
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Sewage
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09-22-08 11:47 AM
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yet another wonderful article about the residents of gville.
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RizziBear
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09-22-08 11:40 AM
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What tragic lives.
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itsjustme
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09-22-08 11:13 AM
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hmm.. 2 1/2 years is that really long enough??
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