Press Release - Wheeler Sentencing

FROM:  HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE:  OCTOBER 3, 2012

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. KARLYLE WHEELER

On October 3, 2012, Karlyle Wheeler of Kingston was sentenced by Ulster County Court Judge Donald A. Williams to 15 years in state prison plus 3 years of post-release supervision after having been found guilty by an Ulster County jury of two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, all class B felonies.

Wheeler was arrested as part of Operation Clean Sweep and charged with selling crack cocaine on two separate occasions to an undercover police officer.  Wheeler’s arrest stems from a cooperative investigation involving the New York State Police, City of Kingston Police Department and the URGENT Task Force.  He has a prior violent felony conviction and is an admitted member of the Crips street gang. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh and the defendant was represented by Assistant Public Defender Maryanne Connelly. 

Press Release - Buying Firewood

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: OCTOBER 2, 2012

RE: BUYING FIREWOOD

The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs advises consumers buying firewood to get a receipt. It is a state regulation that every seller of firewood must provide a receipt for every delivery of loose firewood.

Firewood is often sold by the “cord” or “face cord”.  A cord is a stack of firewood 4’ wide x 4’ high x 8’ long.  A face cord is the length of the log stacked 4’ high x 8’ long.     When the wood is delivered you may ask the seller to stack it (you may have to pay extra for this service) or stack the wood yourself. If the cubic measurement indicates that you did not receive the correct volume, contact the seller before you use any. The receipt must show the name and address of the seller; the date of sale; the quantity and dimensions of the wood; and the price. Consumer Affairs also advises getting the phone number. If the dealer was found through an advertisement, keep a copy of the ad. If the wood is delivered, get the license number of the delivery vehicle.

If you are new to burning wood as a fuel you should learn the difference between hard woods, generally deciduous trees and soft woods, generally evergreens.  Different woods have varying burning qualities and give out different BTU’s. For more information regarding firewood as a fuel you may connect to Cornell Cooperative at http://cce.cornell.edu/Environment/Pages/HeatingwithWood. aspx

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.

Press Release - People v. Gary Watkins

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: OCTOBER 1, 2012

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. GARY WATKINS a/k/a B WAR

 

 

On September 27, 2012, after a trial in Ulster County Court, a jury returned a verdict finding Gary Watkins, a/k/a B War guilty 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, all class B felonies. 

Watkins was arrested on March 29, 2012 as part of Operation Clean Sweep and charged with selling crack cocaine on five separate occasions to an undercover New York State Police Investigator.  On three of the occasions, Watkins negotiated the drug transaction over the phone and sent Isiah Pickett a/k/a Ike to conduct the drug transaction.  The other two transactions were conducted by Watkins.  Isiah Pickett pleaded guilty to his role in the crimes prior to trial and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 19, 2012. 

Watkins arrest stems from a cooperative investigation involving the New York State Police, City of Kingston Police Department and the URGENT Task Force.  He is an admitted member of the Bloods street gang and is believed to be a high-ranking member. “Prior to the formation of the task force now known as “Operation  Clean Sweep” I was presented intel on Watkins. We believe Watkins is responsible for bringing an influx of gang members from New York City to the City of Kingston to fill the void following the Sex, Money, Murder gang prosecutions”, states Holley Carnright, Ulster County District Attorney.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh and the defendant was represented by Denis McClure.  Watkins is scheduled to be sentenced by the Hon. Donald A. Williams on November 28, 2012, and because of two prior felony convictions, is facing up to 30 years in state prison.

Press Release-Jarmel Anderson-Fialkow

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

RE: PRESS RELEASE – JARMEL ANDERSON-FIALKOW PLEA

Jarmel Anderson-Fialkow (DOB: 6/14/73),  last known address New Paltz, New York, pled guilty on September 21^st, 2012, to the crime of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the third Degree, a class B felony. He is expected to be sentenced on November 30th, 2012. Anderson-Fialkow faces up to fifteen years state prison as a prior violent predicate felon.

In January of this year, the defendant was a target in Operation Clean Sweep for suspected illegal narcotic transactions.  On January 10^th and  January 31^st of this year, the defendant sold cocaine to the same undercover police officer—a New York State Police investigator who was a member of CNET—in the City of Kingston.  CNET was working in conjunction with the Kingston’s City Police Special Narcotics Unit, the URGENT Task Force and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.

Defendant Anderson-Fialkow has an extensive criminal history, dating back to 1990, including three prior felony drug convictions. Defendant’s criminal history includes a ten year prison sentence for a Robbery First with a Deadly Weapon conviction in 1998.

Press Release - Terance Peterson

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V TERRANCE PETERSON

Terrance Peterson, age 59, of Kingston, New York, was found guilty of Burglary in the second degree, Aggravated Criminal Contempt, two counts of Criminal Contempt in the first degree, Assault in the third degree, and the new Domestic Violence Strangulation Statute by an Ulster County jury of eleven men and one woman on September 13, 2012.  The case originated out of long term, systematic abuse of the victim by the defendant which culminated on November 29, 2011. At that time Peterson went to the victim’s apartment, grabbed her by the throat in the hallway of her apartment, and forced her into the apartment as he tried to drag her into the bedroom. During her ordeal the defendant placed his hands around the victim’s neck with such force that she lost consciousness, and he repeatedly kicked her and punched her. 

Peterson had previously been convicted of charges involving the same victim in Domestic Violence Court in 2010 at which time an order of protection had been issued on her behalf. The November 29^th incident took place in violation of the Domestic Violence Court’s order of protection.

The case was prosecuted by the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, domestic violence lead prosecutor Elizabeth A. Culmone. At the trial the People called Dr. Michael Sikirica who explained to the jury the physiology and symptoms of strangulation.  Dr. Sikirica explained that when blood flow to the brain is cut off a person becomes completely helpless.  They see blue light and sparkling in their peripheral vision and then they lose consciousness.  At that point they are ninety seconds away from death unless the pressure to the neck is released.

The defendant was represented by Edward Bruno.  Peterson testified on his own behalf at the trial admitting to the jury that he punched the victim five times but denied strangling her. “It was an interesting trial strategy for the defendant to select an almost all male jury.  My own experience has been that men are not particularly sympathetic to these types of allegations.” 

After the victim regained consciousness she ran out of her apartment into the traffic crying out for help.  Some cars passed by but one person, John Bills, stopped and came to her aid.  He helped her call 911 and drove her to the hospital.  Bills testified at the trial describing the victim’s emotional and physical condition and her injuries.

 “So many times in domestic violence cases we have victims who are too fearful to cooperate with our office.  This victim has not had an easy time of it.  I think she finally came to a point where she was not going to take it anymore and she had the courage to come into court and testify against her abuser, not an easy process.  I am grateful that the jury saw through the concocted story which the defendant offered and returned this verdict”.

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced by County Court Judge Williams on November 16, 2012.