Carnegie man gets 4 to 8 years in prison in son's fentanyl overdose

Avant Redding ate a chicken nugget Happy Meal at a living-room coffee table in his Carnegie home on the night of May 6.

A short time later, the 4-year-old boy threw up and had trouble walking. The next morning, he was dead.

Detectives say that Avant’s father, Van Marcus Redding, 37, of Carnegie, had previously used the table to check the packaging of fentanyl stamp bags he sold as a mid-level dealer.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office said Avant, who was described as bright and independent, died from accidental fentanyl toxicity.

On Monday, his father pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, possession with intent to deliver and illegal possession of a firearm.

As part of a negotiated plea agreement, Redding will serve 4 to 8 years in state prison, followed by three years of probation.

Assistant District Attorney Sarah Weikert said Redding drove Avant to St. Clair Hospital after the boy’s mother found him unresponsive in bed hours after he ate.

When Redding was questioned by police, he told them how he and Avant had spent their day — at a family party, outlet shopping and then McDonald’s. Redding gave officers permission to search his apartment, and there, on the coffee table they found jars of prescription medical marijuana. He also showed them a drop ceiling panel where there were small baggies containing fentanyl. He also had a gun.

During Monday’s hearing before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge David R. Cashman, defense attorney Josh Roberts told Cashman his client cooperated with investigators from the very beginning — taking them to where the drugs and firearm were found.

“I think he still struggles with his role in his son’s death,” Roberts said. “He’s going to have to live with the grief he’s caused himself and the rest of his family for the rest of his life.”

Avant’s grandparents said they knew their grandson’s death was accidental, but they questioned why Redding didn’t immediately take his son to the hospital when he appeared to be sick.

“He didn’t try to save him,” said Mia Butler, Avant’s grandmother. “He didn’t try to get him help. He chose to think about himself. He didn’t want to go to jail.”

“I understand this was an accident,” said Michael Brown, Avant’s maternal grandfather. “You looked out for yourself. As a parent, you’re supposed to protect your children. I’d die for my kids.

“Your son died for you.”

Redding told the court he was sorry for his actions.

“I did not know anything that was going on that night was drug-related,” he said. “I had no awareness the situation involved drugs.”