Man Awaiting Trial Dies In Montgomery County Prison

An Abington man awaiting trial for dealing drugs that led to the overdose death of a victim from Hatfield was found dead in Montgomery County Correctional Facility earlier this month, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Ronald Brauning, 41, of Abington, was found unresponsive in his cell on Oct. 9. He was then transported to Einstein Medical Center in East Norriton where he was pronounced dead.

His cause of death is unknown and is under investigation, John Corcoran, Director of Communications for Montgomery County, told Patch.

Following hearings in September during which he pleaded not guilty, Brauning was scheduled to stand trial for the criminal homicide charge of drug delivery resulting in death, and related counts, on Feb. 22, 2019.

Authorities said that Brauning met the victim, Ronald Solomon of Hatfield, on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017 at around 9:18 p.m. Solomon had just returned from a camping trip with his family in New Jersey, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Brauning and Solomon met on the 150 block of Penn Street in Lansdale, where police said Brauning sold Solomon numerous drugs, including fentanyl and heroin.

Solomon returned to his home in Hatfield, where he later ingested the drugs and promptly overdosed, according to the DA. First responders arrived on the scene at about 2:25 a.m. on Aug. 14 and administered naloxone, but were unsuccessful in reviving him. Solomon was taken to Abington-Lansdale Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Shortly after he sold Solomon the drugs on Aug. 13, Brauning was arrested by Montgomery Township Police for drug possession.

Brauning was the first person to be charged with drug delivery resulting in death in Montgomery County in 2018. He also faced counts of involuntary manslaughter, possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Patch file photo