Press Release - Towing & Storage

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: FEBRUARY 28, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE – TOWING & STORAGE

According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, towing companies are not licensed by either the state or county. Some local municipalities license these businesses, but not all. Towing and storage fees are, therefore, generally not regulated.

The state, however, does require towing companies to have a sign posted stating how fees are calculated and what the per-day storage fee is. Consumer Affairs (tel # 845-340-3260) advises retrieving your car as quickly as possible, as storage fees are based on the amount of time the vehicle remains at the facility.

People v. Johnnie Lancaster press release

             PRESS RELEASE – JOHNNIE LANCASTER VERDICT

     Johnnie Lancaster, 25, of Lawrenceville St., Town of Ulster, was convicted by a trial jury on Wednesday February 27, 2019, of the felonies of Burglary in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree.

     The jury deliberated for approximately nineteen minutes before reaching a verdict.

     Lancaster was arrested by the New York State Police on March 1, 2018, after a DNA hit from the New York State CODIS database linked his DNA profile with blood found at the scene of a burglary which occurred on Old Stage Road in the Town of Saugerties on February 23, 2018.

     On February 23, 2018, the homeowners awoke to find an arrow embedded in their living room wall and a broken window indicating that the arrow had been shot into the home. An axe with blood on the handle was also found at the scene. A screen on an enclosed porch had been torn and door on the porch were unlocked. Blood evidence was found on the porch and near a broken basement window. All of the blood evidence matched the single DNA profile of Lancaster. No one was injured nor was any property taken from the home.

     On February 28, 2018, neighbors near Old Stage Road called police after discovering a crossbow and arrows along with a backpack in a wooded area. Inside the backpack was a cellphone SIM card linked to Johnnie Lancaster. Blood was also found on the crossbow matching the same single profile of Lancaster.

     The crossbow was a model designed to kill large game such as bear and deer. To load the crossbow, it required 150 pounds of force to create tension on the cord which holds the arrow in place. The crossbow was fired into the home from the enclosed porch through closed blinds in an area where children in the home played. There was no evidence that Lancaster knew the homeowners.

     Lancaster faces up to 25 years in state prison when he is sentenced by Judge Donald Williams, who presided over the case.

     The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Gerard Van Loan and Johnnie Lancaster was represented by Mikael Cohn of the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.

      

Press Release - Christopher Gertz sentence

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: FEBRUARY 22, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE -  PLATTEKILL MAN SENTENCED TO 15-LIFE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF STEP-DAUGHTER

     Following his conviction after trial 41 year old Christopher Gertz, Jr., of Plattekill, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for the violent felony of Sexual Abuse in the 1^st committed against his 12 year old step-daughter in September of 2017. Gertz lived in the same home in Plattekill with the victim and her mother at that time. 

The abuse occurred at night on September 14, 2017. The child complained to her mother very early in the following morning that her “dad” (step-dad) had inappropriately touched her private areas and that he may have taken pictures with his smart phone in the process. The mother called the defendant to return home from his way to work and confronted him with the allegation. Gertz denied the allegation and commented that the 12 year old girl dreamt it.

When the mother left with the child to report the incident to the police the defendant fled from Ulster County to Indiana where he hid out. Investigators from the Ulster County District Attorney’s Child Advocacy Center enlisted the help of Fulton County Sheriff’s Department in Indiana to find and arrest him. Gertz was then extradited on November 14 of 2017 to Ulster County to answer for the sexual abuse of the child. During the investigation the defendant’s smart phone was found in the water-tank of a toilet at the home where he was hiding out.

This conviction is the third felony conviction for Christopher Gertz, Jr.; he also has five other criminal convictions. While the maximum sentence under New York law for Sexual Abuse in the First Degree is 7 years in prison, Gertz was sentenced under New York’s “three strikes rule” following a hearing to determine the appropriate sentence. County Court Judge Williams determined that Gertz’s criminal history and character warranted an extended period of incarceration and life-time supervision, especially considering his significant record of domestic violence and abuse against women. Judge Williams found Gertz to be a persistent felony offender, and sentenced him accordingly.

Christopher Gertz was represented in the trial by Kingston attorney Bryan Rounds of the Public Defender’s Office.  The case was prosecuted by Emmanuel Nneji, Sr. Assistant District Attorney.

Press Release - Report a Problem to the F.D.A.

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: FEBRUARY 22, 2019

RE: PRESS RELEASE – REPORT A PROBLEM TO THE F.D.A.

Consumers can play an important public health role by reporting to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) any adverse reactions or other problems with products the agency regulates, according to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs. The FDA is responsible for ensuring that foods are safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled. It also oversees medicines, medical devices (from bandages to artificial hearts), blood products, vaccines, cosmetics, veterinary drugs, animal feed, and electronic products that emit radiation (such as microwave ovens and video monitors), ensuring that these products are safe and effective. The FDA also regulates tobacco products.

When problems with FDA-regulated products occur, the agency wants to know about them and has several ways for the public to make reports. Timely reporting by consumers, health professionals, and FDA-regulated companies allows the agency to take prompt action. The agency evaluates each report to determine how serious the problem is and, if necessary, may request additional information from the person who filed the report before taking action. The FDA can be reached online at www.fda.gov, or by calling 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.

Press Release - Ryan Mann arrest

Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center

                                  PRESS RELEASE

                                            

                      

                             Ryan Mann 07/09/2001

  Investigators from the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center and The Village of Ellenville Police Department report the arrest of 17 y.o. Ryan Mann of Ellenville NY.

 On 02/05/2019, personnel from the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center were requested to assist the Village of Ellenville Police Department with an investigation into the abuse of a 10 month child. The investigation revealed that Ryann Mann, on multiple occasions, did forcibly strike and restrict the breathing of his 10 month old daughter until she was rendered unconscious. 

  Ryan Mann was arrested and charged with Reckless Endangerment 2^nd  and Endangering the Welfare of a Child Under (Both misdemeanors).  He was arraigned in the Village of Ellenville Court before the Honorable Matthew Parker and remanded to Ulster County Jail in Lieu of $15,000 cash bail where he remains. 

  Today, District Attorney Holley Carnright announced that a as a result of a continued investigation conducted by the Ulster County Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center and the Village of Ellenville Police Department  that his office was levying additional charges of Reckless Endangerment 1^st (2 counts) and Strangulation 2^nd (2 counts) all felonies.  

   The Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center is comprised of members of the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, Ulster  County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and  Ulster County Child Protective Services. 

The Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center also provides other services to child victims including medical treatment, trauma therapy and family advocacy. Any information or questions may be referred to the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center at 845-334-5155.