PRESS RELEASE

TO: MEDIA
RE: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS
DATE: APRIL 21, 2011

Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright and Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Culmone met with the ninth to tenth grade students at Onteora High School on April 21, 2011 to discuss Domestic Violence Awareness.

The District Attorney and his assistant are both members of the Ulster County Interagency Council on Domestic Violence. The program began with an original script written for this age group, acted out by two students, Seraphina Mallon-Breiman, a senior at Onteora High School, and Nate Cayea, a graduate of Onteora High School. Following the performance DA Carnright and Ms. Culmone answered questions from the students about domestic violence and how to handle potential domestic violence situations that might arise from their drinking.

“We have been working on this program for quite some time. Along with ADA Culmone, a lot of credit should be given to the Department of Social Services attorney Mike Iapoce, who worked with ADA Culmone to put this together. We would like to present this program to other Ulster County high schools next October”. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Press Release - People v Nashon Simmons

PRESS RELEASE

TO: All News Media
FROM: D. Holley Carnright, District Attorney
DATE: April 22, 2011
RE: People v. Nashon Simmons


District Attorney D. Holley Carnright announced today that on April 22, 2011 Ulster County Court Judge Donald A. Williams sentenced Nashon Simmons, a Town of Ulster man to 15 years in prison for his role in two robberies committed by the “Black Mask, Black Glove” gang in the City of Kingston in November 2009. At the time of sentencing Simmons was 18 years old.
In February, an Ulster County jury convicted Simmons of charges arising from two separate robberies which occurred about an hour apart as the victims were walking home from Kingston Plaza. In both incidents, Simmons acted in concert with four to five other gang members and associates. The jury also convicted Simmons of Grand Larceny for a purse-snatching in the Town of Ulster about two weeks after the robberies.
Judge Williams sentenced Simmons to 15 years, the maximum sentence, for each of the two robberies, said sentences to run concurrently. Judge Williams also sentenced Simmons to the maximum terms on the Grand Larceny charge (an indeterminate term of one and one-third to four years) and the Assault charges (one year in the Ulster County Jail). The larceny sentence will also run concurrently with the robbery sentences and, by operation of law, the assault sentences are subsumed by the robbery sentences.
Simmons was represented by attorney Dennis McClure of Kingston. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dylan Gallagher.

Press Release - People v William Constable

DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES: SAUGERTIES MAN SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILD

William Constable, 50, of Bill Par Drive, Saugerties, was sentenced Friday, April 22, 2011, in Ulster County Court before Hon. Donald A. Williams to the maximum sentence permitted by law, seven years in state prison followed by five years post-release supervision. Constable will be required to register as a level three sexual predator for a minimum of twenty years under the New York State Sexual Offender Registration Act.

The defendant entered a plea on January 7, 2011, to Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. The sexual abuse occurred in February of 2010, at a residence in Lake Katrine. The victim was less than eleven years old. The defendant fled to Virginia and was arrested upon his return in March of 2011, following an investigation conducted by the Ulster County Family Violence Unit. He was indicted on April 13, 2010.

Ulster County District Attorney, Holley Carnright described the sentence as “appropriate”. He noted that there are many difficulties unique to crimes against children. Carnright stated that he is committed to holding offenders accountable who target this particularly vulnerable population. He lauded the victim and the victim’s family for their strength and courage throughout the process of the criminal prosecution and Carnright also lauded the Ulster County Family Violence Unit for their thorough investigative efforts.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Katherine Van Loan. The defendant is represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.

Press Release - People v Mattis and Griffin

TO: ALL NEWS MEDIA

DATE: April 15, 2011

RE: PEOPLE V. TREVOR “LITTLE T” MATTIS AND GARY “G-MONEY” GRIFFIN

An Ulster County Jury of three men and nine women found defendants Trevor Mattis a/k/a Little T and Gary Griffin a/k/a G-Money guilty of all charges relating to the gangland slaying of C.J. King on Cedar Street in Kingston of February 9, 2010. The jury received the case at approximately noon and returned their verdict by 4:00 p.m. It was the first Murder in the First Degree verdict in Ulster County’s recent memory. District Attorney Holley Carnright called the verdict emotionally charged. I was struck by a comment made by defense counsel in his summation “This week has been the most important week in my client’s life” and I could not help but contrast that against the fact that C.J. King would never have another “most important week.”

This case was not just an assault against a young man whose adult life had just begun, this was an assault by gang members who felt they were above our system of justice and could control our system of justice. The citizens of the City of Kingston and Ulster County should be proud of the work that the men and women in the Kingston Police Department and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department did on this case. From start to finish this has been a monumental effort. Today we took two dangerous criminals off the street. We took a first step in breaking up the local set of the Sex, Money, Murder gang. It is not every day that I get to say this, but today we made Ulster County a little bit safer.

Prom Letter-Thank You

Holley, thank you for the letters to parents and limo companies for prom season. Every effort improves our chance of a safe prom season. John. John F. Miller Coordinator - Ulster County STOP DWI (845) 340-3448

TO: MEDIA FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ULSTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY DATE: APRIL 1, 2011 SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE-PROMS/GRADUATIONS Holley Carnright, District Attorney of Ulster County, and the Police Chiefs’ Association of Ulster County issued today the following public service announcement: We are fast approaching that time of year when students in our county will be taking part in proms and graduations. Although it is justifiably a time of joy and celebration, it is equally a time for caution and restraint. Alcohol is by far the most widely used drug among our youth and is directly associated with risk-taking behavior and other disinhibiting effects that increase the chances of unsafe conduct on their part. Unfortunately, in recent years, our county, along with much of the rest of the nation, has experienced its tragic results. Under certain circumstances, allowing property to be used in a manner where underage drinking is taking place may well constitute a crime. Section 260.20 of the Penal Law of the State of New York authorizes the prosecution of any individual who gives or sells any alcoholic beverage to a person less than 21 years old. A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail or a $1,000.00 fine, or both. There is a similar section in the Alcohol Beverage Control Law of the State of New York, also a misdemeanor. In addition, on February 19, 2008, the County of Ulster passed “Local Law Number 2 of 2008” which, in pertinent part, provides that “no person having control of any premises shall allow an open house party to take place at said residence if such person knows or has reason to know that any alcoholic beverage or drug is being unlawfully possessed, served to or consumed by a minor at said residence.” It defines “open house party” as “a social gathering at a residence or other private property with minors present.” A violation of this law is punishable by a fine not exceeding $250.00 or imprisonment not exceeding 15 days, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the Social Host Liability Act of the State of New York imposes civil liability upon any individual who knowingly serves or permits alcohol to be served to a minor if that minor causes injury to another as a result of his or her intoxication. We are pleased that a number of school districts in Ulster County have taken measures to prevent drinking by students at school-related functions and to deter the consumption of alcoholic beverages by individuals less than 21 years old. The administration, faculty, and students of such districts are to be commended for their creative initiatives to discourage alcohol and drug use by students. And so we ask that if you permit the use of your home for a prom-,graduation-,or other school-related event, you monitor the situation carefully to insure that all minors in attendance conduct themselves in a proper, responsible, and legal manner. In addition, we ask that if your child is contemplating using a limousine service to transport him or her to an event, you remind the owner/operator of such service of their responsibility in insuring compliance with the laws governing underage drinking. As a result of the efforts of the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the Law Enforcement Agencies of our county, the Ulster County Underage Drinking Prevention Team, and the STOP DWI Task Force, the dangers presented with underage drinking have been identified and continue to be addressed. Any assistance you can render in that regard will be greatly appreciated by all of us and, more importantly, may well save the life of one or more of our children. Ulster County District Attorney: ulstercountyny.gov/da

Press Release-People v Woullard

TO: ALL NEWS MEDIA FROM: D. Holley Carnright DATE: March 24, 2011 RE: Press Release – People v Woullard Eban Woullard, 16, of Henry Street, Kingston, New York, entered a guilty plea to Robbery in the first degree in Ulster County Court before the Honorable Donald A. Williams, Ulster County Court Judge. The charges stem from the September 8, 2010, robbery where Woullard shot a 20 year old male. In the course of stealing from him, Woullard was a backseat passenger in a car when he took a bag of marijuana from the driver of the vehicle, the driver resisted Woullard taking his property and Woullard shot the victim in his arm and pelvis. The shooting occurred in the driveway of 79 Deerfield Road in Boiceville behind Onteora Middle/Senior High School. Woullard was arrested within hours after the shooting when he was located in the City of Kingston. The State Police recovered the handgun used by Woullard in the woods near the scene of the shooting. Sentencing is scheduled for May 20, 2011.

Press Release-People v Fournier/Leitos/Dermody

TO: ALL NEWS MEDIA FROM: D. Holley Carnright DATE: March 24, 2011 RE: Press Release – People v. Fournier, Leitos and Dermody Christopher Dermody, 21, of 109 Yarmouth Street, Kingston, New York, Heather N. Fournier, 20, of 33 Tuyten Bridge Road, Lake Katrine, New York and Parrish A.Leitis, Jr. of 33 Tuyten Bridge Road, Lake Katrine, New York entered a guilty plea to Robbery in the first degree in Ulster County Court before the Honorable Donald A. Williams, Ulster County Court Judge. The charges stem from the November 2, 2010 robbery where the defendants beat a man and stole his property. The victim was lured to the residence of Leitos by Heather Fournier. When the victim arrived Fournier distracted the victim allowing Leitos and Dermody to physically assault him leaving him unconscious. After the males stole property from the victim they placed him in his own vehicle and drove him down the road and left him where the police ultimately discovered him still unconscious. Sentencing for Leitos and Dermody are scheduled for May 19, 2011. Sentencing for Fournier is scheduled for May 20, 2011.

Press Release-People v Ferro

TO: MEDIA FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT DATE: MARCH 25,2011 RE: PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V HERBERT FERRO DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES: PRATTSVILLE MAN SENTENCED TO TWELVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUAL ACTS WITH CHILD Herbert Ferro, 43, of Main Street, Prattsville, was sentenced Friday, March 25, 2011, in Ulster County Court before visiting judge, Hon. Andrew Ceresia of Rensselaer County to twelve years in state prison followed by five years post-release supervision. Ferro will be required to register for the remainder of his life under the New York State Sexual Offender Registration Act and a full “Stay Away” Order of Protection will remain in effect until March 6, 2029. The defendant entered a plea on February 10,2011, to the Class “B” violent felony offense of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree. The sexual acts began in the summer of 2009 at a motel located in the Town of Shandaken, Ulster County and continued through December of 2009 at a private residence in Prattsville, Greene County. The victim was less than eleven years old. The defendant was arrested on January 20, 2010, following an investigation conducted by the New York State Police. He was indicted on May 27, 2010 Ulster County District Attorney, Holley Carnright, noted that although there are many difficulties unique to crimes against children, he is committed to holding offenders accountable who target this particularly vulnerable population . The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Katherine Van Loan. The defendant is represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.