Press Release - Mark English Sentence

From: Holley Carnright

Date: November 26, 2013

Re:  Press Release on People v. Mark English

Mark English, 52, formerly of Port Ewen, was sentenced today in Ulster County Court to 1 1/3 – 4 years in state prison upon his conviction for felony Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree.  From 2005 through 2007, English owned and operated the now defunct Hudson Valley Saints minor league football team, which played at Dietz Stadium in Kingston.  During his tenure with the Saints, he borrowed large sums of money from various individuals claiming that he needed the money for team expenses, but he used some of the sums for his personal interests and never repaid any of the loans.

In pronouncing sentence, Judge Donald Williams indicated that the seriousness of the crime, along with English’s failure to show a sincere intention to make significant restitution since the time of his plea in June, (he had amassed only $1472 in restitution funds), required that he be sentenced to state prison. 

Press Release - Jason Dewitt Sentencing

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 26, 2013

RE: PRESS RELEASE – JASON DEWITT

Jason DeWitt 34, Town of Ulster, was sentenced today to seven years in state prison and ten years post release supervision for having sexual contact with a female under the age of 11 years old. He will be required to register as a sexual offender when released from prison. The defendant pled guilty to Sexual Abuse in the First Degree on 9/24/13. This is the defendant's second conviction. In 2005, the defendant was found guilty of sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child after a jury trial in Orange County for having sexual intercourse with a female under the age of fifteen. However, that conviction was reversed on appeal on October 30, 2008 due to remarks made by a court officer in the presence of the jurors. The case was returned for retrial in the Town of Montgomery Justice Court and on August 9, 2009 at which time the defendant pled guilty to Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Sentencing judge Donald A. Williams stated to the defendant during the sentencing proceeding, “this time is not enough but this is the maximum period I am allowed to give by law.” The court also issued an order of protection effective until November 26, 2038. 

 

Press Release - Keeping Santa Solvent

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 26,2013

RE: PRESS RELEASE – KEEPING SANTA SOLVENT

Surviving the holiday season with your finances intact requires planning, creativity and discipline. The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs encourages consumer to shop locally and offers these tips:

* Make a list (here’s where the planning comes in);

* Don’t act like Santa Claus (be reasonable about who goes on your list);

* Go easy on the gift cards (it’s easy to spend more with these);

* Shop around (comparison shopping can save you money);

* Don’t be a last-minute shopper (poor selection may cause you to spend more);

* Leave the credit cards at home (pay cash unless you pay off your credit card balance each month);

* Be aware of restocking fees (restocking fees are what retailers may charge to return an item. The amount can range from one to over 50% of the full retail price of the item). Know the store’s policy, open packages carefully and keep all accessories, manuals and packaging intact.

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.

Press Release - Gerald Babcock

FROM:  HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 25, 2013

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. GERALD BABCOCK

On November 25, 2013, after a week-long trial in Ulster County Court, a jury of six men and six women returned a verdict finding Gerald Babcock guilty of Manslaughter in the First Degree for the domestic violence strangulation and bludgeoning death of Jamielynn Bleakley.

Babcock was arrested on March 11, 2013, as a result of an investigation by the New York State Police into Ms. Bleakley’s death.  The investigation began on March 6^th, 2013, when EMTs responded to a 911 call from Gerald Babcock claiming that Ms. Bleakley had just fallen down stairs leading from her home in Denning.  When the first responders arrived, they found Ms. Bleakley lying face down in the snow at the bottom of a small set of steps covered in a small blanket and sheets of plywood.  She was wearing only sweatpants, sneakers and a t-shirt that was pulled up above her breasts and to her shoulders.   Ms. Bleakley was rushed to the Catskill Regional Medical Center where she was found to have a traumatic brain injury.  She was subsequently transported to Westchester Medical Center where she succumbed to her injuries on March 7^th, 2013.

During the trial, noted forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden testified that Ms. Bleakley had multiple contusions on her arms, chest, back and face.  She sustained a fracture of cartilage in the front of her neck, severe bruising and damage to her throat, and petechial hemorrhaging, consistent with strangulation. The cause of death was from subdural hematomas on the left side of her head.  He testified that her death was a homicide and her injuries were inconsistent with falling.

Babcock and Bleakley had a brief relationship during which time several domestic incident reports were made.  The defense attorney Andrew Kossover admitted that Babcock was “a bad guy” and that he had assaulted Bleakley prior to her death, but claimed that her fatal head injury was caused by a slip and fall related to her Multiple Sclerosis.

Babcock has a long criminal history which includes felony convictions in New Jersey for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend with a baseball bat.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Michael Kavanagh and Elizabeth Culmone.  Babcock was represented by Public Defender Andrew Kossover.

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced before County Court Judge Donald A. Williams on January 29, 2014.

Press Release - Official Health Plan Marketplace

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2013

RE: PRESS RELEASE - NEW YORK STATE OF HEALTH: The Official Health Plan Marketplace

The New York State of Health (NYSOH), the official health plan marketplace, reported that as of October 23^rd, nearly 174,000 New Yorkers have completed the full application process and were determined eligible for health insurance plans since the October 1^st launch. New York State’s completed applications make up 30% of the total applications completed nationwide.

Individuals and families can get information and enroll in a plan either online at https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov, by calling toll-free 1-855-355-5777, or in-person through a navigator. A list of community navigators can be found by county on the website.*

Nearly 500 in-person assistors/navigators have been trained and are providing enrollment assistance in all 62 counties of the state, and in a total of 48 languages.

New Yorkers have until March 31^st to enroll, and the first round of coverage begins January 1, 2014. To be covered by January 1^st, New Yorkers must enroll by December 15, 2013.

*According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, there are nearly 20 navigator-enrollment sites in the County (subject to change), including Ellenville Regional Hospital, Family of Woodstock (Ellenville and New Paltz), Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center, Institute for Family Health (3 locations), Kingston Hospital, Saugerties Library, SUNY New Paltz and Ulster County Community College. Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.