HOLLIDAYSBURG — A jury was seated Monday for an Altoona man accused of supplying the heroin that fueled a human trafficking organization and allegedly forced drug-addicted women into sex acts and prostitution in 2021 and 2022.

Donald “The Rev” Dargan, 62, who has been fighting the criminal charges since they were filed three years ago by Altoona police, was in Blair County court on Monday, where a jury was selected for a five-day trial starting Feb. 3.

Based on the current court schedule, Dargan’s trial will begin about three weeks after his co-defendants, Derrick “Tat” McNeal and Tony D. Ross, go on trial starting Jan. 13 for their alleged roles in the human trafficking case.

Like Dargan, McNeal’s and Ross’ charges include corrupt organizations, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, involuntary servitude, sexual assault, possession with intent to deliver and other offenses.

Dargan, whose charges were severed from his co-defendants to be considered independently, is also facing a drug delivery resulting in death charge. In January 2021, the body of 38-year-old Colleen Buck was found in Dargan’s third-floor apartment on the 800 block of Sixth Avenue, with the cause of death listed as an overdose.

When questioning potential jurors Monday, defense attorney Christopher Jancula, who represents Dargan, asked jurors to reveal if they lost anyone close to them because of drug use and if they had opinions about drug use.

Responding jurors were allowed to answer discreetly at President Judge Wade A. Kagarise’s bench, with a few subsequently dismissed.

District Attorney Pete Weeks also tried to educate potential jurors about the definition of human trafficking. Beyond the stereotypical definition, the district attorney said it can include controlled or required behaviors in exchange for drugs.

Altoona police, who announced in December 2021 that they were arresting or had warrants for Dargan, McNeal, Ross, Quincy Wilson and Sean Atkins, said the charges developed from an investigation into sexual assault allegations that appeared to be connected.

By collecting details about the allegations, police came to conclude that the five men were targeting women with drug addictions, then forcing them into sexual acts or into prostitution, including times when the women were sexually assaulted while unresponsive or under the influence of drugs.

One of the victims, during an April 4, 2022, preliminary hearing, spoke of sharing a residence on the 900 block of Eighth Street, where she said she and other women engaged in sex with men for money. She also named Dargan as the person who collected a portion of the payments that was used to acquire heroin.

Court documents show that Jancula, on Nov. 15, filed a pre-trial appeal with the state Superior Court, which Weeks said Monday is expected to be denied for failing to secure the required prior approval.

Dargan also attempted to raise evidentiary issues with the county court, by filing a motion on Dec. 11 to suppress evidence. Kagarise, a day later, rejected the pro-se submission from a defendant represented by a court-appointed attorney.

In Dargan’s pre-trial motion, Dargan claimed that potential witnesses interviewed by police provided inaccurate statements that will be unfairly used against him. Dargan also spoke of reviewing video evidence — provided to him more than two years after his arrest — showing witnesses making statements to police that reflected their desire for favorable treatment.

Kagarise’s order denying Dargan’s pro-se motion also applied to his request for a hearing on the legal aspects of his case.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.