Press Release - Robin James Plea

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: OCTOBER 31, 2014

RE: PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V ROBIN JAMES

Robin James of Lower WhitField Road, Accord, New York, pled guilty in Ulster County Court before Judge Donald A. Williams to Grand Larceny in the third degree on October 30, 2014.  James admitted to defrauding the Department of Labor of $18,933.00 in unemployment benefits.

The case was prosecuted by Crimes Against Revenue prosecutor Jessica Mila Schutzman.  James was represented by Attorney Jeremiah Flaherty.

Press Release - Medical Records

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: OCTOBER 31, 2014

RE:  HOW CAN I GET A COPY OF MY MEDICAL RECORDS AND IS THERE A FEE?

According to the New York State Department of Health, a patient can request a copy of his/her medical records and the cost can be no more than 75 cents per copied paper page. A physician cannot refuse to let a patient see medical records because of an unpaid bill. For more information, contact the Access to Patient Information Program at 1-800-663-6114. The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.

Press Release - Gary Watkins Appeal

PRESS RELEASE

FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DATE:     OCTOBER 30, 2014

The Appellate Division, Third Department has today unanimously affirmed both the December 3, 2012 conviction of Gary Watkins, also known as “B War,” upon a jury verdict convicting him of five counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and five counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, as well as his February 20, 2013 conviction upon a plea of guilty convicting him of attempted assault in the second degree.

In August, 2011, as part of Operation Clean Sweep, a multi-agency effort to combat drug trafficking in and around Kingston, defendant was targeted as a drug dealer.  In September, 2011, an undercover officer made five controlled drug buys of crack cocaine from the defendant on two separate occasions in the City of Kingston.  After defendant was convicted of these drug charges by a jury, he was sentenced by County Court Judge Donald A. Williams, as a second felony offender, to an aggregate prison term of 15 years followed by three years of postrelease supervision. 

In a separate matter, defendant was charged in a four count indictment with three counts of assault in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree after assaulting a man with a tire iron in the City of Kingston on February 8, 2012.  Following his conviction on the drug charges, defendant pled guilty to the reduced charge of attempted assault in the second degree in satisfaction of the four count indictment.  County Court Judge Williams subsequently imposed an agreed upon term of two to four years in State prison to be served concurrently to his sentence on the drug charges. 

On appeal, defendant claimed that the verdict on the drug charges was against the weight of the credible evidence and that the Court gave an improper missing witness charge.  Defendant also argued that he was denied effective representation on the assault charge.  Upon review, the Appellate Division, Third Department unanimously rejected all of these claims. 

On appeal, the defendant is represented by Theodore J. Stein, Esq. of Woodstock, New York.  Assistant District Attorney Carly Wolfrom, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.

Press Release - Luis Ortiz Sentence

FROM:  HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE:  OCTOBER 27, 2014

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. LUIS ORTIZ

On October 24^th, 2014 Luis Ortiz of Ellenville was sentenced by Ulster County Court Judge Donald A. Williams to 20 years to life in state prison as a Persistent Violent Felony Offender after having pleaded guilty to Rape in the First Degree on April 25^th, 2014.

Ortiz was arrested by members of the New York State Police after receiving a 911 call that a 62 year old woman was raped by the defendant in her Wawarsing apartment complex.  The defendant gained access to the victim’s apartment by feigning interest in purchasing furniture that she had for sale.  Once inside, the defendant locked the door, attacked and choked the victim and then forcibly raped her.  He then stole the victim’s cell phone and fled the apartment complex.  He was apprehended by members of the New York State Police approximately a mile from the crime scene still in possession of the victim’s cell phone.

Ortiz has an extensive criminal history which includes a conviction for Manslaughter in the 1^st Degree in 1991 and Burglary in the 1^st degree in 2005.  The defendant had been released from prison only eight days prior to committing this crime. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh and the defendant was represented by the Public Defender’s Office. 

Press Release - Lachon Jarvis Plea

FROM:  HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE:  OCTOBER 27, 2014

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. LACHON JARVIS

On October 24^th, 2014 Lachon Jarvis of Saugerties pleaded guilty to the class B felony of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree in Ulster County Court before Hon. Donald A. Williams.  The plea was to the top count of a seven count indictment charging him with the sale of cocaine on three separate dates and possession of more than one-half ounce of cocaine in his home.

Jarvis was arrested on February 11^th, 2014 by members of the City of Kingston Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit.  The arrest occurred after an investigation into narcotics trafficking by Jarvis, which included three sales of cocaine to an undercover operative.  After Jarvis was arrested, law enforcement members executed a search warrant on his house and found in excess of one-half ounce of cocaine, digital scales, narcotic packaging material and a quantity of money, including buy money that was used by law enforcement to purchase cocaine from the defendant. 

Jarvis has a prior criminal history which includes two prior felony convictions, including Manslaughter in the First Degree in 1993 out of New York County. 

Sentencing is scheduled for December 19^th, 2014, at which time Jarvis is expected to be sentenced to eleven years in state prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh and the defendant was represented by the Greenwald Law Firm.