New Oxford man accused of selling drugs that led to teen's death

A New Oxford man was charged with allegedly delivering the drugs that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old in Adams County, according to court records. Justin Michael Hippensteel, 36, of New Oxford, faces felony charges of drug delivery resulting in death, felony possession with intent to deliver, and misdemeanor corruption of minors, according to the charges filed in Adams County on Sept. 4, 2026. Hippensteel was confined in Adams County Prison after being unable to post $1 million monetary bail during his arraignment on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. Attorney information was not yet available in the case, as of Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. Want Hanover and Adams County news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Hanover Daily Briefing newsletter by Harrison Jones here. Charging documents indicated that the charges stemmed from a June 22, 2026 death that was investigated by Eastern Adams Regional Police Department. Around 3:05 p.m. on June 22, emergency crews were called to the unit block of Oxford Drive in Oxford Township for the report of a 17-year-old in cardiac arrest. Officers arrived at the house, the affidavit of probable cause states, where they were told by a family member that family had found the 17-year-old male victim in the basement of the home, with family telling officers that "he was gone." After locating the victim deceased in a basement bedroom, the Adams County Coroner's Office was called to the scene, the affidavit states, and Chief Deputy Coroner Scott Pennewill provided officers with an estimate that the victim had died between 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. on June 22. Police wrote in the affidavit that they seized a "white powdery substance" from the bedroom of the victim, which was sent to the Pennsylvania State Police Forensic Laboratory for testing. Investigators were advised by family of the victim that family had found numerous Cash App transactions between the victim and a juvenile in New Oxford, the charging documents state, which family alleged to police may have been drug-related due to the "amount and frequency" of the transactions. According to the criminal complaint, investigators wrote that the Cash App transactions then led police to talk with Hippensteel, who allegedly admitted during an interview with officers to giving the 17-year-old cocaine on the evening of June 21, 2026. Test results for the white powder found in the victim's bedroom allegedly came back as positive for cocaine, according to the affidavit. Results of an autopsy were received by police on Aug. 25, 2026, which found that the victim had died of pneumonia complicating mixed drug toxicity consisting of citalopram, cocaine, and mitralgynine, with the contributing cause of death listed as "chronic drug use," police alleged in the affidavit. According to information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, citalopram is a prescription SSRI antidepressant also known by the brand name CeleXA, while mitralgynine is a substance that binds to the same receptors as opioid drugs and is derived from the leaves of the controversial kratom plant. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 16, 2026, records show. Harrison Jones covers Hanover and Adams County for The Evening Sun. Contact him at hjones@usatodayco.com. Please consider subscribing to support local journalism.