Press Release - Karon Bowden

                                                      

DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES:  SAUGERTIES SHOOTER PLEADS GUILTY OF GIRLFRIEND’S MURDER  

Karon Bowden, 42, originally from Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty Friday, March 17, 2017 to Murder in the Second Degree.  Bowden admitted that he intentionally caused the death of his girlfriend, Amy Louise Burger, age 25. 

Members of the Saugerties Police Department were assisted in their investigation by members of the New York State Police, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, the Kingston Police Department and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office .   That investigation revealed that Bowden, unemployed, had lived with Ms. Burger for more than three years.  The evidence revealed that she had decided to break off the relationship.  On May 31, 2016 the police received a 911 call that was disconnected.  In response to that call, two members of the Saugerties Police Department went to Ms. Burger’s residence at 26 Randall Court, arriving just as Bowden shot Ms. Burger.  Police believe that Ms. Burger was shot in the face with a 9mm handgun from close range. 

Jury selection was to begin this coming Monday, March 20, 2017.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Victims Bureau, Chief Katherine R. Van Loan of the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.  The defendant is represented by Daniel Gaffney, Esq.  Bowden, who has a prior felony for selling narcotics, is scheduled for sentencing May 24, 2017. 

Press Release - Rental Scam

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: MARCH 15, 2017
RE: PRESS RELEASE – BEWARE THE RENTAL SCAM

The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs is warning prospective tenants of the online rental scam, popular on Craigslist and elsewhere. Here’s how it works – the scammer lists a property which he does not own. The information, complete with photographs is accurate since he has downloaded a listing from a legitimate brokerage firm.  He will try to get you to accept the property (and pay for it) without your first seeing it. He will promise to send keys or to have  you pick them up from an agent after he receives your payment. Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim.


•    You can verify the owner of a property by contacting the County Clerk’s Office where the property is located.  If it comes up under a different name, it’s a sign that a legitimate landlord’s ad has been hijacked.

•    Do not wire money to pay a security deposit, application fee or first month’s rent. Wiring money is like sending cash.

•    If you can’t see the place before signing a lease, walk away from the deal. You may not be dealing with a legitimate property owner or the place might not even exist.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.

Press Release - Kristen M. Casey Plea

FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

          ULSTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DATE:     MARCH 10, 2017

SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE – KRISTEN M. CASEY

On February 24, 2017, KRISTEN M. CASEY, age 36, a resident of 981 Oregon Trail in Pine Bush, entered a plea of guilty before Judge Donald A. Williams to Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence Drugs as a Class E Felony.  Casey was arrested on the afternoon of May 8, 2016 in connection with a one-car crash on Brimestone Hill Road in the Town of Shawangunk. At that time, she showed signs of impairment.  A toxicology report done by the New York State Police Lab revealed that Casey had at least four controlled substances in her blood at the time of arrest.  Casey, who has a prior conviction for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs from the year 2015, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2017.

The case was prosecuted by Ulster County Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Klein.  The defendant was represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.  

Press Release - Kalya Pagan Plea

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: MARCH 9, 2017

RE: PRESS RELEASE – KAYLA PAGAN PLEA

MOTHER PLEADS GUILTY FOR DAUGHTER’S DROWNING IN BATHTUB LAST SUMMER

In Ulster County Court 26 year old Kayla Pagan pleaded guilty to Criminally Negligent Homicide for the drowning death of her 10 month old daughter, in a bathtub at their home at 8 Hideaway Lane, in Marlboro. She was indicted last August by an Ulster County Grand Jury for one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide, a class E felony, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a misdemeanor. 

According to Ulster County DA Holley Carnright, the drowning death occurred in the evening of July 8, 2016, when Kayla Pagan left her daughter for several minutes in a plugged bathtub filling with water while she attended to other minor matters and interests inside and outside of the house. The child’s father, Richard Ryerson, returned home from work to find his daughter floating face down in a bathtub full of water. Mr. Ryerson removed the child from the tub, started CPR, and called 911. CPR performed by the father and a neighbor with instructions from the 911 operator did not save the child’s life. She was rushed by Mobile Life Support Services to St. Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh where she was pronounced dead.

Kayla Pagan remains in Ulster County Jail pending her sentencing in Ulster County Court on May 11, 2017.

The case was prosecuted by Ulster County Assistant District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji.  The defendant was represented by the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.  

 

Press Release - Hasenflue Sentence

FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

          ULSTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DATE:     MARCH 7, 2017

SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE – CHRISTOPHER D. HASENFLUE

On March 7, 2017, CHRISTOPHER D. HASENFLUE, age 38, a resident of 53 Clinton Avenue in Kingston, was sentenced by Judge Donald A. Williams to twenty years in state prison and five years post release supervision. Hasenflue received this sentence in connection with his plea on December 21, 2016, to one count of Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B Violent Felony.  The plea stemmed from an incident which took place in the City of Kingston on the evening of August 9, 2016.  On that night, Hasenflue stole two purses from an outdoor table where women were dining at a Wall Street restaurant. After grabbing the purses, Hasenflue ran up Wall Street, where he was tackled by a Good Samaritan.  As a result of the interference, Hasenflue dropped the purses.  He then displayed a knife, and briefly chased one of the victims.  Minutes later, Hasenflue confronted a third victim on John Street and robbed her of her purse at knife point.  He then fled up Fair Street, where he was chased by additional witnesses.  With the assistance of involved citizens, members of the Kingston Police Department were able to apprehend Hasenflue on Saint James Street only fifteen minutes after the initial crime.  Hasenflue has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1997, which includes a prior conviction for Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree in 2007. 

Press Release - "Help Grandma, I've Been Arrested"

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: MARCH 3, 2017

RE: PRESS RELEASE - “HELP GRANDMA, I’VE BEEN ARRESTED”

Ulster County seniors are warned of phony “emergency” calls asking grandparents to wire money to help a grandchild who is “in trouble.” According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, there are several warning signs of the grandparent scam:

•    An urgent call for financial help with an emergency such as a car crash, medical emergency or trouble with the law;

•    A request to send money by wire transfer via Western Union or MoneyGram;

•    A request to keep the call confidential.

Grandparent scam con artists sometimes trick their victims into mentioning names or they might already have information gleaned from social networking sites like MySpace or Facebook.

They intentionally try to get their victim confused and anxious and they can be quite accomplished.  The best defense is to be skeptical. Ask questions to verify the caller’s identity. Call parents or other family members. Try and speak with your grandchild. Don’t be rushed. Don’t wire money, which is like sending cash and is impossible to recover. Never give credit card or bank account information over the phone.

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 845-340-3260.

Press Release - Jason Scofield Plea

FROM:    HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

         ULSTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DATE:    MARCH 2, 2017

SUBJECT:  PRESS RELEASE – JASON R. SCOFIELD

On March 2, 2017, JASON R. SCOFIELD, age 33, a resident of 40 Bonnie Brae Lane in Shokan, New York, entered a plea to Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree before the Honorable Donald A. Williams. 

Sometime between January and March of 2016, Scofield, an admitted heroin addict, unlawfully entered the residence of a relative in Shandaken and stole a rifle.  The rifle was recovered at an area antique store.  

The investigation was handled by members of the Town of Shandaken Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Klein.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 28, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at which time the District Attorney’s Office will recommend a sentence of 3 ½ years in state prison.