Press Release - Francis Carey Plea

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: OCTOBER 31, 2016

RE: PRESS RELEASE – FRANCIS CAREY

On October 28th, 2016, Francis Carey, 39 yrs old, pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree (a class C violent felony) in Ulster County Court before County Court Judge Donald Williams.  

The events leading to this conviction occurred on February 23rd, 2016, at 3:30 am when Carey was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over for having a suspended registration on N. Front Street in the City of Kingston. The arresting officer, KPD Officer Michael DeFrance, conducted a pat and frisk of Carey after learning Carey was on parole and had been drinking. DeFrance, believing defendant was in violation of conditions of parole, curfew and drinking alcohol, completed the pat down and observed the handle of a handgun sticking out of defendant’s pants pocket. The gun was a fully loaded, semiautomatic, 9 mm pistol. Defendant was placed under arrest. Ironically it was later learned that defendant was on parole for a gun possession conviction.

Carey has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1993 and has served several prison terms. He was convicted of the violent felony for Possessing a Loaded Firearm in 2003; he was convicted of the felony Sale of Narcotics in 2003 and felonious Possession of Narcotics with the intent to sell in 1998. He has numerous misdemeanor convictions including Promoting Prison Contraband, Weapons Possession, Larceny, Possessing Stolen Goods, and an arrest for Assault in the Second Degree in 1994. Carey also has a history of bench warrant(s) and parole violation(s).

Carey’s sentencing is scheduled in Ulster County Court on 01/10/17.

Press Release - Gas Prices: Where Your Money Goes

TO: MEDIA

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: OCTOBER 27, 2016

RE: PRESS RELEASE – GAS PRICES: WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES

When you pump $20 into your gas tank, that money is broken up into little pieces that get distributed among several entities. Gasoline prices are affected by the price of crude oil, refining costs, distribution and marketing costs, taxes and station markup. In some regions of the country, gasoline is required to meet higher environmental standards. Producing cleaner burning gas can increase the cost. For a copy of How Gas Prices Work, contact the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs at 340-3260. The websites www.fueleconomy.gov and www.ag.ny.gov/price-gouging can provide additional information.

                                                                                           

Press Release - Nicholas Pascarella Conviction

FROM:  HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE:  OCTOBER 13, 2016

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. NICHOLAS PASCARELLA, JR.

On October 11^th, 2016, after deliberating for just over two hours, an Ulster County Jury found Nicholas Pascarella, Jr. guilty of Murder in the 2^nd Degree.

Nicholas Pascarella, Jr. was charged by indictment with Murder in the Second Degree for killing his father with a baseball bat on December 27^th, 2014, outside the victim’s residence.  During the trial, the defense argued that the defendant committed the homicide while under the influence of an extreme emotional disturbance, thereby committing the lesser crime of Manslaughter in the First Degree.

However, the prosecution countered by offering proof to establish that the murder was premeditated.  Proof included recorded jail calls between the defendant and his wife during which he discussed the planning of the murder.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh and the defendant was represented by MariAnn Connolly.  Pascarella is scheduled to be sentenced by the Hon. Donald A. Williams on December 16^th, 2016, at which time he will face a sentence of anywhere from 15 to life to 25 to life in state prison.

Press Release - Eric Coutant

 

The Appellate Division, Third Department has today unanimously affirmed the March, 2015 conviction of Eric Coutant upon his plea of guilty convicting him of the crime of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony.

Defendant’s conviction stems from a series of three heroin sales he made to an undercover officer in the Town of Wawarsing in December, 2013.  Defendant was arrested two months later and charged with three counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree.  Defendant eventually pled guilty in the Ulster County Court (Williams, J.) to criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and the plea agreement also included a waiver of the right to appeal.  Defendant, a prior felony offender, was subsequently sentenced to five years in State prison to be followed by three years of postrelease supervision. 

On appeal, the defendant challenged the validity of his waiver of appeal and his sentence, arguing it was unduly harsh and excessive.  The Appellate Division, Third Department, however, found that defendant had knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently waived his right to appeal and that his valid waiver of appeal precluded this challenge.  

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.

 

Press Release - Propane

PROPANE

 

 

Propane gas is a petroleum-based product and will typically follow the ups and downs of crude oil and natural gas markets. The propane gas business is competitive and each company sets its own pricing policy. The price is not regulated by state, federal or local government. The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs suggests checking with a supplier for the pricing options available, understanding all terms of the contract (e.g., fees, purchasing requirements) and conditions under which the contract can be canceled. Consumers who are not satisfied with the terms should consider another provider.

 

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.