Press Release - Chief Taggard

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: JUNE 28, 2012

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – ULSTER POLICE CHIEF MATTHEW TAGGARD

Criminal charges alleging official misconduct have been filed against Town of Ulster Police Chief Matthew Taggard.  Taggard has been placed on administrative suspension, effective immediately, by the Town of Ulster Town Board. Taggard has been under investigation for criminal sexual misconduct involving underage victims.  The investigation has focused on behavior when he was a policeman in the Town of Ulster Police Department prior to being appointed Chief of Police.

The charge of official misconduct alleges that Taggard was aware that sexual crimes were being committed, in an adjoining jurisdiction, and failed to take any steps to prevent same, or to notify the appropriate authorities, responsibilities clearly part of his obligation as a police officer, particularly one in a supervisory capacity.

Taggard was arraigned in front of Village of Saugerties Justice Robert Rightmyer, who set bail at $1,000.00 and, as a condition of his release, the defendant is obligated to surrender all firearms he has in his possession, within two hours of arraignment. He was also ordered by Judge Rightmyer to remain in Ulster County during the pendency of this action. He is scheduled to return to court July 16^th.

Investigators are asking anyone who has information that may be pertinent to this case to contact 1-800-225-5324 or call the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office at (845) 340-3280.

Press Release - Raymond Ducker Plea

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: JUNE 22, 2012

RE:  RAYMOND DUCKER JR.

Raymond Ducker, Jr., pled guilty to Stalking in the first degree and Criminal Contempt in the first degree on June 15, 2012 before Ulster County Court Judge Donald A. Williams.  Ducker, age 29, from Ellenville, New York had been indicted by the Ulster County Grand Jury for multiple counts of domestic violence against his 19 year old live-in girlfriend.  The case was investigated by Village of Ellenville Police Chief Philip Mattracion with the assistance of two Assistant District Attorneys, Elizabeth A. Culmone and Lisa Godfrey of the Ulster County District Attorney’s Special Victims Bureau.

Initially, the investigation was hampered by the fact that the victim did not cooperate.  The investigation team reviewed prior domestic violence incidences, 911 calls and interviewed neighbors from the previous incidences.  The investigation revealed that the victim had been repeatedly subjected to domestic violence by the defendant.  A search warrant was used to gain access to the couple’s apartment. Samples were obtained of blood spatter and photographs of the walls, floor and furniture were taken consistent with the allegations of domestic violence.  In addition, a warrant was utilized to photograph the victim’s injuries. 

Based upon the evidence of repeated abuse, the District Attorney’s Office, against the victim’s wishes, asked the lower court arraigning judge to issue a stay away order of protection.  However, the judge declined to do so.  Presentation to the Grand Jury was accelerated and the Grand Jury returned their first indictment against the defendant within a week.  Upon arraignment in County Court on that indictment, Judge Williams remanded the defendant and granted the People’s application for a stay away order of protection.  Following that arraignment the defendant spoke with and wrote letters to the victim threatening her if she testified against him.  Those letters were later seized.  Based upon additional information obtained through the course of the investigation, the case was re-presented to the Grand Jury for reconsideration of additional charges.  The Grand Jury handed down a superseding indictment adding the Stalking in the first degree counts as well as Assault and Tampering with a Witness. 

The defendant is scheduled for sentencing on August 17, 2012.

Press Release - Drug Sweep Pleas

PRESS RELEASE

From:   D. Holley Carnright, District Attorney 

Date:    June 20, 2012

Re:       Operation Clean Sweep Guilty Pleas    

            Five defendants indicted on separate charges as part of Operation Clean Sweep, a multiagency drug and gang crackdown announced in March, pleaded guilty in Ulster County Court today to selling crack cocaine in the Kingston area.

            The defendants who pleaded guilty to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree included: Paul Jackson, 26; Marcel Smith, 19; Lawrence Taylor, 35; Idona Woullard, 40; and Ashley Finch, 22. The charges against four of the five defendants arose from at least two separate sales of crack cocaine to an undercover officer or in an undercover officer’s presence. The fifth, Jackson, faced charges arising from four separate sales.

            Jackson, who was convicted of selling drugs in 2003, is a member of the “Blackout” street gang. Smith, who had also been convicted of selling drugs previously, is a known member of the “Bloods” street gang.

            Each of the five defendants is expected to be sentenced to a State prison term by the Honorable Donald A. Williams. Judge Williams scheduled each defendant’s sentencing for the week of August 20, 2012.       

Ulster County District Attorney:ulstercountyny.gov/da

Press Release - Rondy Russ Sentencing

The last member of the Bloods street gang charged in the conspiracy to murder a witness in mid-town Kingston in 2010 was sentenced today in Ulster County Court after his unsuccessful attempt to withdraw his previously entered plea of guilty. Rondy Russ a/k/a “Ski”, 25, was sentenced to an indeterminate term of six to twelve years in State prison  based on his guilty plea to Conspiracy in the Second Degree. Four of Russ’ co-defendants and fellow members of the Bloods had previously been convicted after trials and sentenced in the February 9, 2010, execution of Charles King, Jr., on Cedar Street.

            Charles King, Jr., was a potential witness to a November 21, 2009, shooting on Henry Street, where Curtis Williams a/k/a “Black”, a member of the Crips, fired a shotgun at Jarrin Rankin a/k/a “Phat Boy”, a member of the Bloods, who returned fire and shot Williams in the face.  Police arrested Rankin on charges arising from the Henry Street shooting on November 24, 2009. In the weeks following Rankin’s arrest, Russ attempted to locate King in Kingston. In mid-January, Russ brandished a box cutter while demanding that King’s father tell him CJ King’s whereabouts. 

When Russ was incarcerated on a probation violation less than two weeks before King’s murder, co-defendant Trevor Mattis a/k/a “Little ‘T’” assumed the lead in the gang’s efforts to find and eliminate King. On February 9, 2010, Mattis shot King in the back of the head after Jermaine Nicholas a/k/a “Maino” summoned Mattis and Gary Griffin a/k/a “G Money” to a deli on Cedar Street. A jury convicted Mattis and Griffin of Murder in the First Degree and related charges in April 2011. Each have since been sentenced to life without parole.  Both Rankin and Nicholas were convicted of Conspiracy in the Second Degree and related charges by separate juries and have been sentenced to lengthy state prison sentences. On April 13, 2012, an Ulster County jury convicted Rankin of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for his role in the Henry Street shooting. Rankin’s sentencing is pending.

            In his March 7, 2012  plea Russ admitted that he conspired with others to execute King.

Judge Thomas A. Breslin, a Supreme Court Justice presiding as a visiting County Court Judge, took Russ’ guilty plea and sentenced him.

            Russ was represented by Gary Greenwald at the time of his plea. Russ was represented by Dennis McClure for sentencing.

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT DATE: JUNE 14, 2012 RE: PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V LOIS LUBRANO Lois Lubrano, (DOB: 10/15/69), was convicted today by an Ulster County Court jury of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree. The jury trial began on Monday, June 11, 2012, and concluded today after approximately three hours of deliberations. Lubrano was arrested during the early morning hours of July 1, 2011, after a stand-off with the New York State Police which lasted three and one-half hours. Hours earlier, on June 30, 2011, Lubrano fired a shotgun at another person in a residence at 190 Continental Road in the Town of Wawarsing. The evidence at trial showed that Lubrano was about seven feet away from the victim at the time the shot was fired. The victim fled the residence to a neighbor’s home who called the police. Members of the New York State Police, including trained hostage negotiators, arrived at the scene and attempted to convince Lubrano to surrender. Eventually Lubrano was subdued near the front door of the home. Key evidence at the trial included a digital audio recorder which had been placed in the home by the victim which generated an audio recording of the crime. The defendant was clearly heard on the audio stating “you’re a dead lady tonight.” Trial testimony revealed that Lubrano fired one round from a semi-automatic shotgun which landed within two feet of the victim. Lubrano then hid the weapon in some bushes in the backyard of the residence prior to the police’s arrival. Lubrano’s DNA was later found on the weapon. Lubrano had made numerous death threats towards the victim, whom she lived with, in the months leading up to the crime. Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright stated, “This was a classic case of domestic violence, which nearly ended in death. The victim showed a tremendous amount of courage in coming forward and testifying against Lubrano under difficult circumstances. Also, the New York State Police did an excellent job of gathering forensic evidence to support the victim’s testimony. We hope that domestic violence victims are encouraged by the outcome in this case and that they realize that support is out there.” Lubrano was also convicted of the felony of Attempted Assault in the First Degree and the misdemeanors of Criminal Possession of a Weapon and Criminal Mischief. Lubrano was found not guilty of a Criminal Mischief felony charge which occurred weeks prior to this offense. Lubrano faces up to 25 years in state prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision when she is sentenced on August 14, 2012. The matter was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Gerard Van Loan and Lubrano was represented by Assistant Public Defender Bryan Rounds. Ulster County Court Judge Donald Williams presided over the case.

Press Release - People v Brian Densmore

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT DATE: JUNE 14, 2012 RE: PRESS RELEASE - DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES: KINGSTON MAN INDICTED FOR RAPE OF FOUR CHILDREN Brian Densmore, 25, of 14 Hillcrest Avenue, Kingston, was indicted Thursday, June 14, 2012, by an Ulster County Grand Jury on four counts of Rape in the Second Degree, a violent felony, one count of Rape in the Third Degree, one count of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree and four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The defendant was arrested on April 25, 2012, following a joint investigation conducted by the Town of Ulster Police Department and the Kingston Police Department. The investigation revealed that the defendant had engaged in sexual intercourse with four separate children, under the age of fifteen, starting in the summer of 2011 and ending in April of 2012. The defendant initiated contact with two of his victims through Facebook which was followed by texting to their cellular telephones. All victims are students at J. Watson Bailey Middle School. The defendant will be arraigned in Ulster County Court at a date to be determined. The case is being prosecuted by Ulster County Special Victims Bureau Chief Katherine R. Van Loan. The defendant is represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office. Ulster County District Attorney, Holley Carnright noted, “This defendant is a predator who targets early adolescents. His use of social media highlights the risks associated with such technology that every parent or guardian must be aware.” It is likely that there are other victims of this defendant. Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is asked to contact either Detective Michael Thomas of the Town of Ulster Police Department at (845) 382-1111 or Detective Michael Benjamin of the Kingston Police Department at (845) 331-1671, or call the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office at (845) 340-3280.

Press Release - People v Raymond Ducker

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT AND ELLENVILLE CHIEF PHILIP MATTRACION DATE: JUNE 8, 2012 RE: JOINT PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V RAYMOND DUCKER JR. Raymond Ducker, Jr., 29 years old, Ellenville, New York was indicted by the Ulster County Grand Jury for two counts of Stalking 1st, Assault 2nd, Tampering with a witness 3rd and seven counts of Criminal Contempt in the first degree for domestic violence perpetrated against his live-in girlfriend. The indictment comes after a month long investigation initiated by the Ellenville Police Department who were concerned for the victim’s safety. “On behalf of my agency I would like to commend the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, particularly Assistant District Attorneys Elizabeth Culmone and Lisa Godfrey for their efforts and determination in making sure this victim is now safe from this violent predator” quoted Ellenville Police Department Chief Philip Mattracion.

Press Release - Kanwarjit Singh Sentencing

From: Holley Carnright Date: June 8, 2012 Re: Press Release on Kanwarjit Singh Sentencing Kanwarjit Singh, 38, of Wappingers Falls, the former proprietor of the Sunoco Convenient Mart located at 675 Broadway in the City of Kingston, was sentenced today in Ulster County Court to a term of 4 – 12 years in state prison. In February, Mr. Singh pled guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fifth Degree. These charges stemmed from a large-scale food stamp fraud scheme that was uncovered at the Sunoco store in 2010. Further investigation into Mr. Singh’s tax filings had also revealed significant understatements of his sales, earnings, and employee wages. As part of his plea agreement, Mr. Singh forfeited all monies previously seized by the District Attorney’s Office from his bank accounts and located during the November 2010 raid of his store, and has provided an additional $64,000 in restitution monies. This will result in a total of $325,000 being returned to various governmental agencies. Singh’s sentencing closes out this investigation conducted by the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, Kingston Police Department, and Department of Social Services investigators. At the end of the day 50 individuals were convicted of food stamp fraud. An additional 50 individuals were civilly disqualified from benefits for a savings to the taxpayers of $350,000.00 over and above the monies being returned to the government. In sentencing Mr. Singh today, County Court Judge Donald Williams spoke at length about the serious, far-reaching, and negative consequences of the defendant’s criminal scheme, and that, rather than being a “victim-less” crime, this kind of criminal behavior victimizes everyone in our society. The judge expressed these actions not only allowed other dishonest citizens to abuse the welfare system, which undermined the provision of food assistance to those truly in need.

Press Release -Michael Taylor Conviction

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT DATE: JUNE 7, 2012 RE: PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. MICHAEL TAYLOR After a trial in Ulster County Court, a jury returned a verdict finding Michael Taylor of Kingston guilty of two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, all class B felonies. The jury reached their verdict after approximately one hour of deliberation. Taylor was arrested as part of Operation Clean Sweep, a cooperative investigation involving the New York State Police, City of Kingston Police Department and the URGENT Task Force, and charged with selling crack cocaine on two separate occasions to an undercover Investigator. Taylor has a lengthy criminal history including four prior felony convictions which include convictions for criminal possession and sale of controlled substances. The case was tried before Ulster County Court Judge Donald A. Williams and was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh. The defendant was represented by Assistant Public Defender Russell Schindler. Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced by the Hon. Donald A. Williams on August 6, 2012, and is facing up to 24 years in state prison.

Press Release: Leo Leonard Appeal Decision

PRESS RELEASE FROM: D. Holley Carnright, District Attorney DATE: June 4, 2012 In a decision rendered on May 31, 2012, the Court of Appeals affirmed the February 7, 2011 decision/order of the Appellate Division, Third Department, which affirmed the April 2009 conviction of Leo Leonard, upon a jury verdict convicting him of the crime of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Burglary in the Second Degree. In the decision, New York State’s highest court addressed the question of whether it is possible for a parent who has custodial rights to a child to be guilty of kidnapping that child, an issue of first impression in this state. In the case at bar, the defendant and the victim are an estranged couple who are the parents of a young child. In February, 2008, when their child was seven weeks of age, the defendant appeared uninvited at the victim’s residence. Following a lengthly domestic violence altercation during which the defendant abused the mother of his child, threatened her with a knife and actually cut her, he eventually calmed down and allowed the victim to leave, while he remained with the baby. After the mother fled, the police were called and upon their arrival, the defendant took out a 13” kitchen knife and held it near the baby’s throat. The defendant then retreated with the child back into the residence and held the police at bay while holding the knife near the child’s chest and throat and threatening to kill her if they came any closer. For the next hour police hostage negotiators and the Ulster County SWAT Team were at a stand off. The defendant was finally persuaded to give the baby, unharmed, to the police. Following his conviction, the defendant was sentenced by Supreme Court Judge Teresi to an aggregate determinate sentence of twenty-five years on his Kidnapping Second conviction to be followed by five years post-release supervision. The defendant’s primary argument on appeal was that the evidence was legally insufficient to support his Kidnapping in the Second Degree conviction. In its 4-3 decision, the Court of Appeals majority concluded that while kidnapping by a custodial parent of his or her own child is not a legal impossibility, it is possible only in cases like this one “where a defendant’s conduct is so obviously and unjustifiably dangerous or harmful to the child so as to be inconsistent with the idea of lawful custody”. In affirming the conviction, the Court of Appeals cautioned that while its holding should not be too readily extended, “when a man holds a knife to his child and threatens to murder her if anyone tried to take her from him, a line has been crossed”. On appeal, the defendant is represented by Stuart M. Cohen, of Rensselaer, New York, Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office with the assistance of Shirley Huang, Esq.