GERMANTOWN—State Police in Livingston investigated a fatal farm tractor accident during the snowstorm, February 8 at 9:11 p.m.

Christopher Mahood, 23, of Germantown was driving the tractor in the process of plowing his driveway at 3986 Route 9G when the tractor went off the edge of the road and rolled down a 15-foot embankment.

The tractor struck a propane tank and caused it to leak.

County 911 summoned Germantown firefighters, Northern Dutchess Paramedics, the Columbia County Hazmat Team and the gas company to make repairs.

Paramedics took Mr. Mahood to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, where he was pronounced dead. Firefighters were back in service at 11:36 p.m.

Chatham

Livingston State Police investigators charged Mark W. Lecuyer, 55, of Watervliet with third degree criminal sex act, a class E felony, February 11.

Police say a lengthy investigation revealed that Mr. Lecuyer allegedly engaged in sexual conduct at his Railroad Avenue Auto Sales and Service in the village without the woman’s consent.

He was arraigned by Livingston Justice Robert Moore and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail. He will appear in the Chatham Village Court.

Hudson

Richard Allen Moore, Jr., 32, of Hudson was charged on a warrant for fourth degree criminal mischief (intent to damage property), third degree criminal tampering, fourth degree grand larceny (vehicle worth more than $100), unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, third degree aggravated unlicensed operation, leaving the scene of an accident, unsafe backing of vehicle and second degree harassment (physical/repeated) by Hudson Police Officer Daniel Scali at the police station, February 4 at 11:06 a.m.

Mr. Moore turned himself in on the warrant. On January 6, he allegedly threatened to kill a woman during a dispute and intentionally threw her belongings and broke them in her home. He allegedly stole the woman’s vehicle and got into a property damage auto accident with it. He allegedly drove the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license and also allegedly left the scene of the accident.

Arraigned before City Judge John Connor, Jr., Mr. Moore was sent to the county jail without bail.

*Darrell M. Dutcher, 32, of Hudson was charged with third degree assault (with intent to cause physical injury, second degree unlawful imprisonment and second degree strangulation by Hudson Police Officer William Wrigley at 545 Prospect Street, February 5 at 3:02 a.m.

Mr. Dutcher got into a dispute with a woman and allegedly assaulted and strangled her until she could not breathe. He allegedly punched her repeatedly in the face while physically restraining her—not allowing her to leave the apartment. The woman sought medical attention at the hospital.

Arraigned before City Judge John Connor, Jr., Mr. Dutcher was sent to jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or bond.

*Cleveland Spann, Jr., 44, of Hudson was charged with third degree assault (with intent to cause physical injury), resisting arrest, criminal possession of a controlled substance and on a warrant for violating a family court order (act of violence) by Hudson Police Officer Jeffrey Keyser, February 1 at 10:58 p.m.

Police went to an apartment building at 15 North Front Street to investigate a disturbance. When they got there, they saw Mr. Spann who was wanted on a warrant. As they took him into custody, he allegedly physically resisted arrest and during a struggle with officers, he allegedly bit an officer’s finger causing injury. He was also found to possess a pipe containing a substance that field-tested positive for cocaine.

Arraigned before City Judge Mark Portin, Mr. Spann was sent to the county jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or bond on the most recent charges and in lieu of $25,000 bail on the family court warrant.

*Kevin M. Williams, 39, of Hudson was charged with first degree criminal contempt (violation of an order of protection/physical contact) and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child by Hudson Police Officer James Nero at

a 233 Robinson Street apartment, February 3 at 4:29 p.m.

Mr. Williams allegedly violated an order of protection and got into a dispute with the protected person February 2, during which he allegedly spit in the woman’s face in front of her children and threatened her by telling her he was going to call Child Protective Services and have her children taken away.

Mr. Williams was additionally charged with aggravated criminal contempt for violating an order of protection by striking someone with his fist January 28, causing serious physical injury.

Arraigned before City Judge John Connor, Jr., Mr. Williams was sent to jail in lieu of $2,000 cash bail or $3,000 bond.

*Lindsay R. Cappozzo, 21, of Hudson was charged with second degree obstruction of governmental administration, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct (fighting/violent behavior) by Hudson Police Officer Tracey Roberts at 211 Warren Street, February 5 at 6:40 p.m.

Ms. Cappozzo was involved in a verbal and physical dispute with a man on a public Street, which was witnessed by officers. When police arrested the man, Ms. Cappozzo allegedly interfered. When police told her she was under arrest, she allegedly physically resisted being taken into custody. An officer received minor injuries while making the arrest. Ms. Cappozzo was issued appearance tickets.

Claverack

Richard W. Williams, 39, of Claverack was charged with criminal obstruction of breathing and possession of a controlled substance outside its original container by Deputy Peter Grzeskow and Sergeant Donald Krapf, February 4 1:38 a.m.

Mr. Williams was charged following a dispute.

Arraigned in Claverack Court before Justice Michael Brandon, Mr. Williams was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return to court at a later date.

Drugs/alcohol

The following face drug- and/or alcohol-related charges:

*Julie Maresco, 26, of Valatie was charged with driving while intoxicated by Livingston State Police, Saturday, February 9 at 11:15 p.m. Troopers stopped Ms. Maresco on State Route 9, Stockport when her vehicle that failed to keep right. Troopers interviewed the driver, detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage and administered field sobriety tests which Ms. Maresco could not perform. Her breath test resulted in a .09% blood alcohol content. She was issued tickets returnable in Stockport Court.

*Charles A. Haberek, 35, of Niverville was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated (children as passengers) and other traffic violations by Kinderhook State Police, February 10 at 1 a.m. Troopers stopped the Haberek vehicle on Hawley Road in Niverville for failing to stay in its lane. They interviewed the driver, detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage and administered field sobriety tests which Mr. Haberek was unable to perform. He was driving with three passengers in the vehicle, two of them children. His breath test resulted in a .16% blood alcohol content. He was issued tickets returnable in Kinderhook Town Court. The children were turned over to their mother.

*Michelle Lee Moskaluk, 23, of Hollowville was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and disorderly conduct (refusing to move on) by Hudson Police Officer Kevin Sweet at 724 Warren Street, February 7 at 9:33 p.m.

Ms. Moskaluk allegedly failed to move on when asked to by police who were called multiple times about her causing a public disturbance in front of 724 Warren Street. She was also found to possess a controlled substance.

She was issued appearance tickets.

*Byris Ficklin, 23, of Latham was charged with second degree criminal possession of marijuana, a class D felony by State Police at Kinderhook, February 13 at 1 a.m. During a traffic stop of Mr. Ficklin’s vehicle on Route 9H in Ghent, police found him to have about eight pounds of marijuana. He was arraigned before the Ghent Justice David Harrison and was sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bail. He will return to court February 18.

To contact Diane Valden email .

County Court cases

The following cases were heard in Columbia County the week of February 4. Information was provided by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.

*Kathleen Patton pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .08 of 1% or more (prior conviction of designated offense within 10 years) and driving while intoxicated (previous conviction of designated offense within 10 years). She was sentenced to pay a $1,000 fine on each charge by Judge Jonathan Nichols, February 5. She was arrested January 26, 2012 at 2:14 a.m.

*Tiffeny Rinchere pleaded guilty to making a false written statement, tampering with physical evidence (producing false evidence) and third degree falsely reporting an offense or incident to law enforcement before Judge Richard Koweek, February 6. She was arrested August 15, 2012 at 3:14 p.m.

*Shane Kitchen pleaded guilty to two counts of second degree assault (person 18 or more years old causes injury to a person less than 7 years old) and endangering the welfare of a child. He was sentenced to 2 years in jail on each of the assault charges and 1 year in jail on the endangerment charge by Judge Nichols, February 8. He was arrested April 6, 2011 at 2:40 p.m.