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Press Release - James Beermunder Plea/Sentence

December 14, 2018, 12:19 pm
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: DECEMBER 14, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE - DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES:  KINGSTON MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED ORAL SEX WITH TEEN AND IS SENTENCED TO STATE PRISON  

James Beermunder, 20, formerly of VanDuesen Street in Kingston, entered a plea of guilty Thursday, December 13, 2018, to Attempted Criminal Sexual Act in the Second Degree in Ulster County Court.  The defendant admitted that Between February 1, 2017 and April 30, 2017, when he was 18 years old, he attempted to engage in oral sexual conduct with a thirteen year old child.  

The defendant was sentenced at the time of his plea to four years in state prison to be followed by ten years of post-release supervision.  He will be required to register under the New York State Sexual Offender Registration Act for a minimum of twenty years.  Additionally an Order of Protection requiring the defendant to stay away and have no contact with the victim until December 13, 2030 was issued and served upon the defendant.  An application to grant the defendant Youthful Offender Status, which is discretionary on a felony offense, was denied. 
  
The case was prosecuted by Special Victims Bureau Chief, Katherine R. Van Loan.  The defendant was represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.      
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Press Release - Seth Lyons sentence

December 17, 2018, 1:40 pm
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FROM:  HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE:  DECEMBER 17, 2018
RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. SETH LYONS

On December 17, 2018, Seth Lyons was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison on his conviction to Murder in the second degree.

Lyons was charged by Indictment with Murder in the Second Degree for beating Anthony Garro, Jr., to death.  Garro was found deceased under the Elmendorf St. Bridge during the early morning hours of November 29th, 2017.  An intensive investigation by members of the City of Kingston Police Department and the New York State Police led to Lyons, who was located in the City of Kingston that same morning.  Lyons was subsequently arrested and charged with Murder in the Second Degree.

At trial, the defense argued that Lyons was experiencing an Extreme Emotional Disturbance at the time of the murder resulting from a combination of mental illness, chronic drug abuse and sleep deprivation, thereby committing the lesser crime of Manslaughter in the First Degree. 

However, the prosecution countered by offering evidence that the defendant had an acute recollection of the murder demonstrating an awareness of his actions that belied the defense of Extreme Emotional Disturbance.

During today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Williams heard from family members of Anthony Garro Jr.  Addressing the court were the victim’s parents, Anthony and Marianne Garro, his Aunt, Rebecca Garro, his sister, Dawn Garro, and his long-time partner, Laurie Difalco.  All who spoke recounted stories of Anthony’s childhood and his kind and generous spirit.  They each described Anthony Garro, Jr. as a beloved man who will always be remembered as someone who put others before himself and who will be greatly missed.

In pronouncing sentence, Judge Williams cited the brutality of the murder, as well as Lyons’ complete lack of remorse for why the maximum was the appropriate sentence.  

The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh and Senior Assistant District Attorney Lisa Bondarenka. The defendant was represented by Bryan Rounds, Kingston, New York.


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Press Release - "Welcome to Marwen"

December 19, 2018, 12:34 pm
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RE: ‘WELCOME TO MARWEN’

On April 8, 2000 at approximately 2AM a 39 year old Army Vet left the Loony Tune Saloon on East Chester Street in Kingston.  Five men beat,kicked and stomped him and left him in the roadway.  A woman, coming home from work almost ran his over, stopped, gave him aid and called for help.

For the next ten days the victim remained in a coma. He was not expected to survive his injuries.  When he came out of the coma he did not recognize his family, had no recall of the assault and in fact thought he was still in the Army.

‘Welcome to Marwen’ is a movie based on the assault, the arrest and prosecution of the five men involved and the extraordinary therapeutic process the victim went through. The case was prosecuted by Ulster County Sr. Assistant District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji who also assisted in the making of a 2002 documentary which became the basis of this film.

Emmanuel is one of many amazing, dedicated, Assistant District Attorneys who represent the People of Ulster County.

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Press Release - Beware the Puppy Scam

December 20, 2018, 11:46 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: DECEMBER 20, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE - BEWARE THE PUPPY SCAM

You want to buy a puppy, so you look online for breeders. You come across a website that appears to be run by a dog breeder who has puppies for sale. There are photos of the puppies and guarantees of their health and vaccinations. There are even glowing testimonials. The prices of these puppies are lower than those of other breeders (or perhaps even free). You email the breeder. The puppy is still available and the breeder is happy to ship it to you. All you need to do is use a wire transfer (or other untraceable method) to send money to the breeder. Don’t do it. The scammer won’t send the puppy because the dog doesn’t exist. The scammer simply stole the pictures and other information from a legitimate breeders’ website.
To avoid this scam, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs advises:

·       Always visit the breeder. Responsible breeders and local rescue groups will be more than happy to offer you a tour.

·       Pick up your puppy at the kennel. Don’t rely on the breeder to ship the puppy.

·       Check references. Talk to others who have purchased pets from this breeder and the veterinarian the breeder works with.

·       Pay with check or credit card. If a breeder pressures you to pay by wire transfer or prepaid debit card, it’s likely a scam.

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.
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Press Release - Akhenaton Russell appeal

December 27, 2018, 10:52 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: DECEMBER 27, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – AKHENATON RUSSELL APPEAL

The Appellate Division, Third Department, has affirmed the February 11, 2016 verdict convicting Akhenation Russell of the crime of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, third degree (two counts).  Following the jury’s, verdict defendant, who has a prior violent felony conviction, was sentenced in Ulster County Court to nine years in prison.

The defendant raised three issues on appeal.  He argued that he had not received a pretrial identification notice, he argued that the court erred in allowing the jury to have transcripts of the controlled buy recordings; and he argued that his sentence was excessive.  In affirming defendant’s conviction the Appellate Division rejected each of defendant’s arguments.

Attorney David Woodin of Catskill, New York, represented the defendant on appeal.  Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb was appellate counsel representing the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.

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Press Release - William M. Knox appeal

December 27, 2018, 10:59 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: DECEMBER 27, 2018
RE: PRESS RELEASE – WILLIAM M. KNOX APPEAL

On November 6, 2015 William M. Knox was convicted by an Ulster County jury of Criminal Contempt in the second degree.  In appealing his conviction, the defendant argued that County Court’s ruling allowing the prosecution to introduce evidence of defendant’s prior violent, controlling, and abusive behavior against the victim was in error.

In rejecting defendant’s argument the Appellate Division ruled that County Court properly weighed the potential prejudicial effect of such evidence against its materiality and relevance to prove defendant’s motive, absence of mistake or accident and proof of the nature of defendant’s relationship with the victim.

On appeal defendant was represented by attorney Terrence M. Kelly of Albany, New York.  The Ulster County District Attorney’s office was represented by Assistant District Attorney Paul Derohannesian.

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Press Release - New Phishing Scams

January 3, 2019, 7:12 am
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NEW PHISHING SCAMS

Two new phishing emails hit consumers’ inboxes recently, according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs. Both emails purport to be from major retailers – Amazon and Apple – and confirm a purchase. The thing is there were no purchases.

The two emails count on the recipient to panic and overreact because they didn’t make the purchase. Consumers who receive such emails should never respond using links in the email. These links might download malware to your device or it might take you to a website where you would be asked to provide your log-in information in order to see the phantom order. Instead, go directly to the legitimate website of the company and contact the customer service department to confirm that the notification is either a mistake or a scam.

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.
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Press Release - Mark A. Smith

January 10, 2019, 11:45 am
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Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center
                                  PRESS RELEASE
                              
                                  
                            Mark A. Smith 5/4/1973
Investigators from the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center report the arrest of 45 y.o. Mark A. Smith of Smithville Flats NY.

On 01/02/2019, the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center began investigating several allegations of rape regarding a 15 y.o. female victim. The incidents were reported to have occurred in the Town of Rochester (Ulster County) in the fall / winter of 2018.  

The investigation revealed that Mark A. Smith , on multiple occasions, engaged in intercourse or oral sexual contact with a 15 y.o. victim. 

On January 4th Mark A. Smith was charged with Rape 3rd degree (2 cnts) & Engaging in a Criminal Sexual Act 3rd degree (both felonies).  He was arraigned in the Town of Rochester Court before Honorable Babcock and remanded to Ulster County Jail in Lieu of $25,000 cash bail.  An Order of Protection was issued on behalf of the victim. Smith was ordered to appear in the Town of Rochester Court on 01/08/2019.

The Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center is comprised of members of the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, Ulster  County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and  Ulster County Child Protective Services. 

In addition to investigating allegations of criminal conduct, the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center provides services to child victims including medical treatment, trauma therapy and family advocacy. 

Any information or questions may be referred to the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center at 845-334-5155.
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Press Release - Stansberry/Gardener/Stansberry indictment

January 15, 2019, 1:09 pm
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FROM:  HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE:  JANUARY 15, 2019
RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. MAURICE STANSBERRY, SR., MAURICE STANSBERRY, JR., and KEVIN GARDENER

An Ulster County Grand Jury filed an indictment today in Ulster County Court charging Maurice Stansberry, Sr., Maurice Stansberry, Jr., and Kevin Gardener with Murder in the Second Degree for killing Mark Lancaster on December 1st, 2018, on Sawkill Road in the Town of Ulster.  The indictment charges all three defendants under New York’s felony murder statute for Lancaster’s death which occurred during the defendants’ flight from an armed robbery.  The indictment further charges the defendants with Robbery and weapons charges.

The Office of the Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide and determined the cause of death to be the result of a gunshot wound. 

The defendant will be scheduled for arraignment on the indictment in Ulster County, County Court.

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Press Release - Riis Matthew Silver appeal

January 17, 2019, 11:20 am
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PRESS RELEASE

FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DATE:     JANUARY 17, 2019



The Appellate Division, Third Department has unanimously affirmed the conviction of Riis Matthew Silver, a/k/a ‘Flea’ rendered April 15, 2016 upon a jury verdict convicting him of the crimes of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, two counts, and reckless endangerment in the first degree.

Defendant’s conviction stems from an incident which occurred on the morning of October 26, 2014 near the Cedar Street Deli in Kingston.  At that time, following a brief conversation with the victim, the defendant fired seven shots in her direction from his .40 caliber handgun.  The victim was not struck but police discovered seven separate bullet holes in her vehicle. 

Following his conviction, the defendant was sentenced in County Court to concurrent determinate maximum sentences of 15 years followed by five years of postrelease supervision on his weapons possession convictions and a concurrent indeterminate term of two and one-third to seven years on his reckless endangerment conviction. 

On appeal, the defendant challenged a number of the Court’s rulings, arguing that the trial court abused its discretion by denying multiple motions for a mistrial and that its Molineux ruling was incorrect.  He also maintained that County Court’s imposition of maximum concurrent sentences on his dual convictions of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree were unduly harsh and excessive.  Upon review, each of these claims were rejected by the Appellate Division, Third Department. 

On appeal, the defendant is represented by Cliff Gordon, Esq. of Monticello, New York.  Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.

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Press Release - Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers

January 17, 2019, 1:41 pm
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: JANUARY 17, 2019
RE: PRESS RELEASE –
    CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS REGARDING TAX
    PREPARERS


 

Taxpayers who use the services of paid tax preparers are entitled to protection from unfair treatment, according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs (340-3260).

While most tax preparers act within the law and treat their clients fairly, there are some that don’t. The Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers describes your rights and contains important information about how to protect yourself from unfair practices. This publication is available from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website at www.tax.ny.gov, or call 518-530-4357.



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Press Release - Jovan A. Wilkins sentence

January 18, 2019, 1:05 pm
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FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
          ULSTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DATE:     JANUARY 18, 2019
SUBJECT:  PRESS RELEASE – JOVAN A. WILKINS

     On January 18, 2019, JOVAN A. WILKINS, age 26, a resident of Noxon Road, Lagrangeville, New York, was sentenced by Judge Donald A. Williams to eighteen years in state prison and five years post release supervision on his conviction to Assault in the first degree, a Class B violent felony. Wilkins’ conviction stemmed from his role in stabbing a man in the early morning hours of December 3, 2017 at a house party in the Town of Plattekill. The proof at trial revealed that defendant stabbed the unarmed, 26 year old victim, at least nine times, with seven of those wounds to the victim’s back.

At trial, Dr. Dennis-Roger Phillip, the victim’s emergency room physician, explained to the jury that many of the stab wounds could have been fatal. He described one stab wound as having punctured the victim’s lung, a second having lacerated his spleen and that the wounds to the victim’s abdomen in effect disemboweled him.  Dr. Phillip indicated that when the victim arrived at the hospital, he was at the point of death, and that he would suffer long-term physical effects from the attack.

At the sentencing, prosecuting attorney Kathleen Klein read statements from the victim and the victim’s mother describing the emotional and physical impact of the significant injuries caused by the defendant. Also at sentencing Aaliyah Kemp, the victim’s fiancée, addressed the court and Mr. Wilkins. Ms. Kemp described the fateful near death call she received from the victim as he was being taken to the hospital and how he told her that he might not make it and that he loved her. “His voice became really faint and I said do not say good bye to me”.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Klein. Sr. Assistant District Attorney Clifford Owens co-chaired the prosecution with ADA Klein. Wilkins was represented by Assistant Public Defender Mikael Cohn.

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Press Release - Beware of Extortion Scams

January 23, 2019, 11:28 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: JANUARY 23, 2019
RE: PRESS RELEASE – BEWARE OF EXTORTION SCAMS

 
Have you received a call or email pressuring you to send money, or else. . . Almost always a threat designed to frighten you into handing over your money is a scam according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs (340-3260).

The scammer may call you and pressure you into paying immediately and threaten to send law enforcement to your house if you refuse. The threats may include the threat of an arrest.
Scammers will also send emails claiming you owe money for things like speeding tickets, tax debts or payday loans.  The scammers may purport to be representatives of the FBI, various law firms or other legitimate sounding agencies, including local law enforcement. According to District Attorney Holley Carnright, no member of any Ulster County law enforcement agency will ever threaten to arrest you unless you pay them money.

If the scam is sent by email, it is likely to include an attachment or link to a fake website where you will be asked to download proof of the “bill”, “fine” or “delivery details”. Opening the attachment or downloading the file could infect your computer with malware.

Consumer Affairs advises:

·       Do not be pressured by a threatening caller.

·       A government agency or legitimate company will never ask you to pay by unusual methods such as by gift or store cards, iTunes vouchers, wire transfers or Bitcoins.

·       Do not respond to suspicious messages, texts or emails. If you do, the scammers will likely escalate their intimidation and attempts to get your money.

·       If you receive an extortion-type call or email requesting immediate payment, file a complaint with the FBI at www.ic3.gov.


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Press Release - Michael Rodriguez sentence

January 25, 2019, 12:30 pm
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: JANUARY 25, 2019
RE: PRESS RELEASE

Michael Rodriguez, age 36, of Kingston, was sentenced to nine years in state prison on his plea to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance second degree, a Class A II felony. Rodriguez’s conviction stems from an URGENT Task Force arrest from April 2018 where defendant possessed more than four ounces of heroin in the City of Kingston. The defendant has prior felony criminal possession of a controlled substance convictions from 2003 and 2004 and a prior Grand Larceny, fourth degree, conviction from 2014.

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Press Release - Daniel Mikalonis sentence

January 28, 2019, 6:31 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: JANUARY 28, 2019
RE: PRESS RELEASE - DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES:  KERHONKSON MAN SENTENCED TO MAXIMUMN SENTENCE FOR ORAL SEX WITH TEEN  

Daniel Mikalonis, 27, formerly of Krum Road in Kerhonkson, was sentenced on Friday, January 25, 2019 to 7 years in state prison to be followed by 10 years of post-release supervision, on his conviction of Criminal Sexual Act in the second degree. He also will be required to register under the New York State Sexual Offender Registration Act for a minimum of twenty years and an Order of Protection was issued in favor of the victim until 2044.

The defendant pleaded guilty on October 22, 2018, to the Class “D” violent felony of Criminal Sexual Act in the Second Degree in Ulster County Court.  The defendant admitted that in June of 2015, he engaged in oral sexual conduct with a fourteen year old child.  The plea took place on the morning a jury was to be selected for trial in this matter. 

The defendant was arrested on September 13, 2017, following an investigation by the New York State Police, Ellenville Barracks.  The case was prosecuted by Special Victims Bureau Chief, Katherine R. Van Loan. The defendant was represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.  
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Press Release - Kevin Greene plea

January 28, 2019, 11:31 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: JANUARY 28, 2019
RE: PRESS RELEASE – KEVIN GREENE PLEA

Kingston shooter pleads guilty in Ulster County Court

     Moments before jury selection was set to begin, Kevin Greene, 33, of 80 West Pierpont Street, entered a guilty plea to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree today in Ulster County Court. By pleading guilty, Greene admitted he illegally possessed a loaded handgun.

     The guilty plea stemmed from a shooting that occurred near the intersection of West Pierpont and Hone Streets in the City of Kingston on June 5, 2018 around 10:00 AM as a resident of Hone Street was calling 911 when her home was struck with bullets. No one was injured in the shooting. A nearby school was placed in lockdown as a result of the incident as Kingston Police searched for armed suspects. 

     During the investigation, the Kingston Police Department located a loaded nine millimeter handgun in Greene’s backyard. DNA on ammo found in the gun matched the defendant’s. Police also found a spent cartridge outside of Greene’s house which was analyzed and found to have been fired from the nine millimeter. Greene told police that he was being shot at by two other persons, however, the only physical evidence recovered after an extensive search was linked to Greene’s gun.

          Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright stated, “This was a potentially deadly situation which was quickly stopped by the teamwork of the Kingston Police Department, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, State Police and District Attorney’s Office. The Emergency Response Teams were on the scene immediately and were methodical in locating suspects and evidence while protecting people in the neighborhood from more gunfire. Greene has four prior convictions for selling drugs and has a history of weapons possession. The residents in that neighborhood should be commended for their courage in coming forward so that this dangerous individual could be held accountable for his actions.” 

     Greene faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of fifteen years in state prison on the class C violent felony when he is sentenced on April 2, 2019. Green was represented by Assistant Public Defender Mikael Cohn and the prosecutor on the case was Senior Assistant District Attorney Gerard Van Loan.
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Press Release - Sales Tax

February 1, 2019, 7:54 am
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: FEBRUARY 1, 2019
RE: PRESS RELEASE – SALES TAX QUESTIONS



Do you have a question about sales tax rates or what products and services are/are not subject to New York State sales tax? For basic, easy-to-understand explanations of particular sales tax topics, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs suggests consulting the State’s sales tax bulletins, available on the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance’s website at www.tax.ny.gov.

Consumers without internet access can call the Sales Tax Information Center at 518-485-2889.

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.



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Press Release - Matthew Sahler appeal

February 1, 2019, 8:01 am
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TO:       ALL NEWS MEDIA
FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DATE:     FEBRUARY 1, 2019



The Appellate Division, Third Department has unanimously affirmed the July, 2015 conviction of Matthew Sahler upon a plea of guilty convicting him of the crimes of aggravated driving while intoxicated and driving while intoxicated. 

Defendant’s convictions stem from two separate incidents which occurred in July, 2014 and October, 2014.  On the first occasion, after being stopped by police in Wawarsing, defendant was found to have a blood alcohol content of .19% after failing multiple field sobriety tests.  Three months later, defendant was involved in a rollover accident in New Paltz and when police arrived, they again noticed signs of intoxication.  In addition, on both of these occasions, defendant did not have a valid license. 

Defendant subsequently pled guilty to aggravated driving while intoxicated as charged in an indictment and one count of driving while intoxicated as a felony as charged in a superior court information in the Ulster County Court with the understanding he would be sentenced to consecutive terms of imprisonment of two and one-third to seven years.  At the time of the plea, defendant also waived his right to appeal.  Subsequent thereto, County Court imposed the agreed upon term of imprisonment. 

At the time of defendant’s arrest in 2014 defendant had had nineteen previous arrests from Oklahoma, Florida, New York and Arizona for theft, domestic violence and driving under the influence related cases and had received greater than five sentences of probation.

On appeal, defendant challenged the validity of his appeal waiver and the perceived severity of his sentence.  The Appellate Division, Third Department, however, found both of these claims to be without merit. 

On appeal, the defendant is represented by Assistant Public Defender Michael K. Gould, Esq.  Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.


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Press Release - DA Annual Report 2018

February 5, 2019, 8:53 am
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                              2018
 
                 ULSTER COUNTY
             DISTRICT ATTORNEY
                ANNUAL REPORT


The District Attorney is an independently elected public official.  The District Attorney has the sole responsibility for the prosecution of all crimes and offenses which occur within the geographic confines of the county in which he holds office.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

The simple fact is that public safety and economic prosperity go hand in hand.  One cannot exist without the other.  For us to prosper as a community, our citizens must be safe.

BUDGET

In 2018 the Ulster County District Attorney budget was $4,757,018.00. Of this total $2,698,035.00 was for personnel expenses. In 2018 our office received $664,272.00 in non-forfeiture, non-county taxpayer revenues which offset the non-personnel expenses.


COLLABORATION WITH OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OR OUTSIDE AGENCIES

The Department of Social Services: Investigation and prosecution of social services fraud; prosecution of deadbeat child support obligators.

CAC.  A joint task force to fight crimes against children. Our partners are the Department of Social Services, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department, and local law enforcement personnel.

Police agencies: We work hand in hand with all police agencies that serve the people of Ulster County in  investigations leading to the prosecution of all criminal behavior committed in Ulster County. Due to the continuously changing landscape of criminal justice in New York, we have taken on a leading role in training of all police personnel.

State agencies: We collaborate with NYS Department of Tax and Finance, the NYS Comptroller’s Office and the NYS Attorney General’s Office.

Federal agencies: We work with the US Attorney’s Office and all federal agencies that assist them, to wit, the US Marshalls, the FBI, Customs and Immigration, Secret Service and AUSA.

2018 IN REVIEW

In 2018 our indictment and felony prosecutions were higher than in the past two years.  In 2018 we filed 203 indictments and 110 Superior Court (felony) Informations.  We conducted 13 felony jury trials which resulted in 11 convictions and 2 acquittals. Overall, our felony prosecution conviction rate remains exceptional at greater than 90%.

As in the past, statistically, drugs and DWI related offenses represent greater than 50% of all felony prosecutions.  Robbery, burglary, and grand larceny offenses continue to trend downward, as have welfare fraud.  We’ve seen a decrease in domestic violence arrests.  Conversely, we continue to have more weapons cases and sexual offenses.

Our Special Victims Bureau in conjunction with the Child Advocacy Center has seen a troubling uptrend in sexual offenses, particularly those committed against children.

Heroin, Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogues continue to dominate the illegal drug landscape.  Unfortunately, we are also beginning to see methamphetamine cases.

Overall, our appellate practice remains strong.  Notably two murder convictions, Basheem Bennett and Kenneth Stahli were affirmed in 2018.

CARP: (Crimes Against Revenue). Under our Crimes Against Revenue prosecutions we recovered $176,901.84, and procured an additional $88,830.00 in court ordered restitution. Many of our fraud prosecutions are a result of our coordination with Ulster County Department of Social Services investigations. Through this coalition, in addition to the above, we entered into civil settlements that did not result in prosecutions but reduced the social services rolls by $11,689.71.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: We continue our fight against domestic violence. We had 2168 Domestic Incident Reports (DIR’s) in Ulster County in 2018.  We will continue our focus on domestic violence awareness and prosecution and will continue to work closely with the Ulster County Interagency Council on Domestic Violence and the Ulster County Child Advocacy Center. 2018 marked the genesis of Intimate Partner Violence Initiative, a state pilot program aimed at preventing domestic violence.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

In 2018 the Office of the District Attorney, Division of Consumer Affairs, resolved 186 cases and retrieved $97,487.82 for victims of consumer fraud.

SIGNIFICANT CASES IN 2018

Certainly one of the most troubling crimes I have observed in my 40+ years in law enforcement was the brutal slaying of a young man on Turkey Point carried out by local 18th Street Gang members, resulting in the arrests and federal prosecutions of four co-defendants,   Sergio Gerardo Herrera-Hidalgo, Cristian R. Perez Perez, Israel Mendiola-Flores, and Yanki Mateo-Cruz.  I can’t say enough about the coordinated, unified response from the Ulster County law enforcement community working with the FBI and Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office, which resulted in those arrests.

Seth Lyons was tried and convicted for the murder of Anthony Garro.

Raymond Moore – AKA “Nice”, a reported Poughkeepsie Bloods gang member with more than 20 arrests and 4 felony convictions, was tried and convicted of Criminal Possession of a Weapon.

Ricardo Almenteros was tried and convicted of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree for possessing greater than two pounds of cocaine.

John Ronk was convicted of Vehicular Manslaughter in the death of a bicyclist in Port Ewen while driving with a BAC of .32.  Ronk was sentenced to five to fifteen years in state prison.  This was Ronk’s second vehicular homicide conviction.

Eight men were convicted of felony sexual offenses. Jonathan Santiago, Daniel Mikalonis, Christopher Gertz, Jr., Sean Roff, Leoneudi Ageuda, Ulrich Arlt, James Beermunder, Jean Carlos Colon.  All have been sentenced to state prison and are now on the registry of sexual offenders.

CONCLUSION

The Ulster County District Attorney’s Office is a team of prosecutors and investigators, individuals of exceptional caliber who seek justice for the victims of crime and who are dedicated to the protection of the People of Ulster County.






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Press Release - DA Carnright

February 6, 2019, 12:32 pm
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FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2019
RE: PRESS RELEASE - DA CARNRIGHT

I have been privileged to work with the men and women in the criminal justice community that serve and protect the citizens of Ulster County for 40 years.

I have been a member of this very select group of people, as an Assistant District Attorney, the Chief Assistant District Attorney, a criminal defense attorney and, for the past 11 years, as the Chief law enforcement officer in Ulster County.  I have seen and learned many things.

I have known for many years a day would come when, if I am lucky, I’ll reach a point where I am offered a choice to select a different path.  I have reached that point and look forward to new challenges that await me after the conclusion of my term.

It is not an easy decision to leave the office of District Attorney.  I will cherish the associations I have made with many very fine prosecutors who have been the backbone of the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.  These people have been and remain as fine a team of prosecutors as you will find anywhere.

One of the factors that make my decision to leave the office at the end of my term a little easier is the knowledge that this group of prosecutors and investigators is fully capable of continuing the work we have begun.  They truly have been champions of justice.  I am confident that they will continue to work with the law enforcement community in seeking justice for the victims of crime and zealously protecting the wrongfully accused. 

Four years ago I asked Michael J. Kavanagh to serve as my Chief Assistant, a position in which he has excelled. I hope he will consider running for the seat of District Attorney.  I am confident his compassion and his commitment to justice would make him an outstanding District Attorney.
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