PRESS RELEASE
FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DATE: MAY 31, 2018
The Appellate Division, Third Department has unanimously affirmed the conviction of Brandon M. Ward rendered December 22, 2015 upon his plea of guilty of the crime of sexual abuse in the first degree.
Defendant’s conviction stems from a series of incidents which occurred in the Village of Ellenville in the summer and fall of 2014 involving a ten year old victim. Defendant was eventually charged with the crimes of criminal sex act in the first degree, sexual abuse in the first degree, three counts, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Following his arrest, defendant waived indictment and pled guilty to a superior court information charging him with sexual abuse in the first degree and waived his right to appeal. Thereafter, County Court (Donald A. Williams, J.) imposed the agreed upon State prison sentence of seven years to be followed by 10 years of postrelease supervision.
On appeal, defendant challenged the validity of his waiver of appeal and argued that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel due to numerous alleged failures on counsel’s part. The Appellate Division, Third Department, however, rejected all of defendant’s claims.
On appeal, the defendant is represented by Theodore J. Stein, Esq. of Woodstock, New York. Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.