The trial of a Clearfield Township man accused of administering the substances that resulted in a woman’s death is scheduled for November, the court decided at a Wednesday, July 8, status conference.

Assistant district attorney Ben Simon said discovery was ongoing in the case of Sloan Dale Hanson, 72, who was charged Jan. 23, 2025, with one felony count each of third-degree murder, drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter in the death of Kimberly Ray, 55.

Sloan Hanson

Simon added discovery is waiting on one supplemental lab report to be delivered and a search warrant for an additional phone number. He said the prosecution intends to call about 15 witnesses or experts to testify.

Simon and defense attorney Mike Jewart of Zunder & Associates predicted the trial will last three to four days.

However, Hanson’s trial in November may still be moved, according to Butler County Common Pleas Judge Maura L. Palumbi. She said the Office of the Attorney General also has a case scheduled in the county in November, so Hanson’s case may get bumped if schedules conflict.

The case was originally set for trial in October, but Simon said a different murder trial is also scheduled in October and would create logistical problems having them at the same time.

That case is Commonwealth v. Rivera, in which Joshua Rivera, 40, will face a jury after being accused of killing a 15-year-old boy in a hit-and-run crash in October of 2023.