Press Release - Jeremiah Smith indictment

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT  

DATE:SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

RE: PRESS RELEASE – JEREMIAH SMITH INDICTMENT

KINGSTON MAN INDICTED FOR BURNS ON 2 YEAR OLD GIRL IN BATHTUB

Ulster County Grand Jury on Thursday reported an indictment charging Jeremiah Smith, age 30, of Salem Road in Port Ewen, with two counts of felony assault in the second degree and one count of child endangerment. The charges stem from an investigation conducted by Kingston Police and District Attorney’s Child Advocacy Investigators regarding significant burn injuries suffered by a 2-year old girl in the bathtub of her home on July 9, 2018, when she was left alone with Jeremiah Smith. The child sustained second degree burns from her waist down. 

Jeremiah Smith is expected to be arraigned next week in Ulster County Court. He is presumed innocent of these charges.

The case is being prosecuted by Sr. Assistant District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji and the defense is represented by Joseph O’Connor, a Kingston attorney.

Press Release - Seth Lyons conviction

FROM:  HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE:  SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. SETH LYONS

On this date, after deliberating for just under seven hours, an Ulster County Jury found Seth Lyons guilty of Murder in the Second Degree.

Lyons was charged by Indictment with Murder in the Second Degree for beating Anthony Garro, Jr., to death.  Garro was found deceased under the Elmendorf St. Bridge during the early morning hours of November 29^th, 2017.  An intensive investigation by members of the City of Kingston Police Department and the New York State Police led them to Lyons, who was located in the City of Kingston that same morning.  Lyons was subsequently arrested and charged with Murder in the Second Degree.

At trial, the defense argued that Lyons was experiencing an Extreme Emotional Disturbance at the time of the murder resulting from a combination of mental illness, chronic drug abuse and sleep deprivation, and thus should not be found guilty of Murder.

The prosecution countered by offering evidence that the defendant had an acute recollection of the murder, and that following the murder, Lyons lied to the police several times; first, stating that he was attacked by five men in midtown and later, offering different narratives minimizing his conduct before eventually admitting he assaulted the victim.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh and Senior Assistant District Attorney Lisa Bondarenka. The defendant was represented by Kingston attorney, Bryan Rounds.

Lyons is scheduled to be sentenced in Ulster County Court by the Hon. Donald A. Williams on December 3^rd, 2018.  

Press Release - SS Admin. Impersonation Scheme

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

RE: PRESS RELEASE – SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION IMPERSONATION SCHEME

According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have received reports from citizens across the country about receiving phone calls from individuals posing as SSA employees. The caller indicates that citizens are due a 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of their Social Security benefits and goes on to ask citizens to verify personal information, including their name, date of birth, Social Security number (SSN), etc. to receive the increase. If the impersonator is successful in acquiring this information, they use it to contact SSA and request changes to the victim’s direct deposit, address and telephone information.

What Can You Do?

Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls or other communications from people claiming to be from SSA or other government agencies. Know the source of the communication before providing any information. Avoid providing personal information such as your SSN or bank account numbers to unknown persons over the phone or internet unless you are certain of who is receiving it.

How To Report?

If you receive a suspicious call from someone allegedly from SSA, you may report the call to the OIG:

·       Phone: 1-800-269-0271

·       Online: https://oig.ssa.gov/report

If you have questions about any communication – email, letter, text or phone call – that claims to be from SSA or the OIG, please contact your local Social Security Office at 1-877-405-6747. Consumer Affairs can be reached at 845-340-3260.

Press Release - Christopher Sanchez appeal

FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DATE:     SEPTEMBER 20, 2018

The Appellate Division, Third Department has today unanimously affirmed the September, 2016 conviction of Christopher Sanchez upon his plea of guilty of the crime of aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate in the first degree, a class E felony. 

Defendant’s conviction stems from an incident which occurred on the morning of June 21, 2015 when he was incarcerated in the special housing unit in Wawarsing serving a sentence for attempted robbery in the first degree.  At that time, while a female corrections officer was in the process of collecting the meal trays, defendant purposely threw urine at her. 

The defendant, a prior felony offender, pled guilty to aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate in the first degree and waived his right to appeal in exchange for the Court’s promise to sentence him to a two and one-half to five year State prison sentence to be served consecutively to the prison sentence he was then serving.  At that time, County Court Judge Donald A. Williams also imposed a $5,000 fine, together with the mandatory fees and surcharges and issued an order of protection on the victim’s behalf. 

On appeal, defendant claimed that both the agreed upon maximum term of imprisonment, as well as the maximum $5,000 fine were unduly harsh and excessive.  While the Third Department found defendant’s challenge to the sentence was precluded by his valid waiver of appeal, it nonetheless concluded that the sentencing court did not abuse its discretion in imposing either the maximum sentence or fine. 

On appeal, the defendant is represented by Jane M. Bloom, Esq. of Monticello, New York.  Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.

Press Release - Credit File Law - Freeze on Cred. Reporting

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2018

RE: PRESS RELEASE - UPDATE TO CREDIT FILE LAW ALLOWS CONSUMERS TO FREEZE THEIR CREDIT REPORTING

Beginning September 21, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will be putting a new credit file protection layer in place, according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs.

Courtesy of the new Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2155), consumers can contact any of the three major credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – and request a freeze be placed on their credit files for free, and the agencies have until the next business day to put that freeze in place.

The biggest upside of this act is that it makes it harder for identity thieves to open up new credit accounts under a consumer’s name.

“Credit bureaus play a valuable role in our financial system by helping financial institutions assess a consumer’s ability to meet financial obligations, and also facilitating access to beneficial financial products and services,” wrote (www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/crapo-statement-at-credit-bureau-hearing-) Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), author of the bill.

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.