Press Release - Tips for buying gift cards

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 27, 2012

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – TIPS FOR BUYING GIFT CARDS

Shopping for gifts can be a real dilemma. Gift cards may be the answer, as recipients can get exactly what they want from a retailer or restaurant. The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs offers these tips when shopping for gift cards:

-        Buy from sources you know and trust;

-        Read the fine print before you buy. Is there a fee to buy the card? If you don’t like the terms and conditions, buy elsewhere;

-        See whether any fees will be deducted from the card after you purchase it;

-        Inspect the card before you buy it. Has it been tampered with in any way?;

-        Give the recipient your original receipt so they can verify the card’s purchase in case it is lost or stolen;

-        Consider the financial condition of the retailer or restaurant (if the business closes a store near the recipient, it may be hard to find another location where the card can be used).

The Division of Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.

Press Release - People v Streb Plea

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 21, 2012

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V STREB

John Streb, the third co-conspirator in the April 10, 2012 Sawyer Bank robbery pled guilty in Ulster County Court today.  In his allocution before Judge Donald A. Williams Streb admitted planning and executing the robbery with his accomplices Ryan Novick and Amanda Muhs.  Novick went to trial and was convicted by a jury last week.  Muhs had previously pled guilty.

Streb admitted that he entered the bank while Novick acted as the getaway driver.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 5, 2013.  He is facing a maximum of seven years in State Prison. Streb’s prior criminal history includes four felonies, Robbery in the third degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the fourth degree, Attempted Grand Larceny in the third degree and Grand Larceny in the fourth degree, all of which were committed in Monroe County. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh.

Press Release - People v Harold

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 19, 2012

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V RALPH HAROLD

Ralph Harold Jr., age 52, of Kingston, New York, pled guilty to Criminal Sexual Act in the first degree on November 15, 2012 in Ulster County Court.  The defendant admitted that on July 8, 2012 he forcibly raped and sodomized a member of his common law wife’s family.  Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2013 before County Court Judge Donald A. Williams.  It is expected that the defendant will receive a sentence of fifteen years in State Prison, fifteen years post release supervision and that he will be a registered sex offender.

Press Release - Terrance Peterson Sentencing

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE:NOVEMBER 16, 2012

SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V TERRANCE PETERSON

Terrance Peterson, age 60, of Kingston, New York was sentenced in Ulster County Court, today, to fifteen years in State Prison on his convictions of Burglary in the second degree, Strangulation and Criminal Contempt.  The sentencing was handed down by Ulster County Court Judge Donald A. Williams.  Both the victim and the defendant spoke at the sentencing proceeding as did Ulster County District Attorney’s Chief DomestiC Violence prosecutor, Elizabeth A. Culmone. In addition to the sentence of incarceration the court also issued an order of protection in favor of the victim until 2040.

Press Release - People v Novick

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: NOVEMBER 16, 2012

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V RYAN NOVICK

Ryan Novick, age 31, of Rochester, New York, was convicted by an Ulster County Jury of Robbery in the third degree and Grand Larceny in the third degree, yesterday, November 15, 2012.  Novick was considered by authorities as the ring leader of a “gang” of four individuals who had been travelling through New York State committing bank robberies. Seven bank robberies have been attributed to this group committed between the City of Rochester and Ulster County this Spring.

On April 10, 2012 around 1:00 PM one of Novick’s accomplices, John Streb, entered the Sawyer Savings Bank and passed a manila envelope to a bank clerk, upon which was written “I got a gun. Give me all the money, not the dye pack and you will not get hurt.”  Novick and another accomplice, Amanda Muhs, were in a gray SUV circling the driveway to a local health facility three buildings away.  When Streb left the bank he ran to the getaway car and Novick picked him up and fled the scene, travelling to the New York State Thruway and heading south.  Unbeknownst to the bank robbers, Novick’s circling of the getaway vehicle in the parking lot attracted the attention of one of the doctors at the facility, Dr. Robert Martin.  When Dr. Martin saw Streb run to the vehicle and, almost simultaneously heard the police sirens, he deducted that a crime had just been committed. Dr. Martin called 911 and ran to his vehicle and followed the getaway car, while alerting the police.  Novick drove the vehicle south on the thruway and pulled into the Ruby Service Station.  He and Muhs got out of the vehicle and were seen on video entering the restaurant.  When they saw the police from inside the restaurant Novick and Muhs went into the ladies room and hid approximately $6,000.00 cash in one of the stalls there.  It was later determined that that money had been taken from the Herkimer County burglary the day before. Novick then fled on foot and was eventually apprehended.  Muhs was hiding in the ladies room and was taken into custody without incident.  Streb, the third codefendant, was found on the floor of the getaway vehicle with the proceeds from the Sawyer Savings Bank robbery along with the hat and glasses he was wearing when he committed the robbery.

The trial was presided over by County Court Judge Donald A. Williams.  Attorney Brian Rounds represented the defendant.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh.