VALATIE—A 20-year-old Niverville man faces charges in the wake of a car versus pedestrian accident, April 16 at 8 p.m.
Columbia 911 dispatched troopers from the Kinderhook barracks with the Valatie Fire Department and the Valatie Rescue Squad to New Street in the village for the collision.
An investigation by State Police revealed that Joshua Southard was allegedly operating his vehicle in a reckless manner on New Street when his vehicle struck a teenage girl standing on the side of the road with a group of other pedestrians.
Kinderhook troopers and State Police investigators from Livingston charged Mr. Southard with third degree assault, second degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, all class A misdemeanors. He was also issued vehicle and traffic tickets for imprudent speed and failing to use due care to pedestrians.
Arraigned in Kinderhook Town Court before Justice David Dellehunt, Mr. Southard was released to his parents pending a future court date.
Anyone with information related to this incident should contact Livingston State Police investigators.
Hudson
State Police arrested a Hudson man on drug charges after he led them on a pursuit that started in Greenport and ended in a crash in the city.
Levar K. Young, 36, was charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second degree criminally using drug paraphernalia, second degree obstructing governmental administration, second degree reckless endangerment, third degree unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, reckless driving, unlawful possession of marijuana and numerous traffic infractions, April 8.
Trooper Gary Mazzacano, Jr., stopped Mr. Young after he saw him not wearing a seatbelt in Stockport. Mr. Young suddenly sped off causing Trooper Mazzacano to have to leap out of the way of the vehicle.
Eyewitnesses say the fleeing car forced at least five cars off the road. State Police then pursued the Young vehicle southbound on Fairview Avenue at speeds of up to 65 miles an hour. The pursuit came to a screeching halt when Mr. Young could not complete a right turn onto Green Street in Hudson and slammed into a tractor trailer and two vehicles that were stopped at the traffic light facing east in the opposite direction. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured.
When police tried to take Mr. Young into custody he allegedly resisted. He was subsequently found to allegedly have crack cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. His passenger, a 17-year-old female, complained of hand pain. She was treated by the Greenport Rescue Squad at the scene. The operator of the first vehicle hit was taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital by Greenport squad for a complaint of neck and back pain. The occupants of the second vehicle were uninjured. Hudson and Greenport police departments were at the scene assisting along with Hudson and Greenport fire departments. Mr. Young was arraigned in Hudson Court and was sent to the Columbia County Jail without bail.
Claverack
Manuel E. Carreras, 22, of Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson, was charged with third degree rape and third degree criminal sexual act, both class E felonies, Monday, April 15 at 3:17 p.m., according to a press release from Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr.
Deputies began an investigation Sunday, April 7 after receiving a complaint through the Social Service Child Sexual Abuse Referral line.
Mr. Carreras allegedly went to the home of a 15-year-old girl while her parents were asleep and engaged in sexual activity with her earlier this month.
Mr. Carreras was taken into custody at the Sheriff’s Office by Investigators Patrick Logue and Mark Dunspaugh. Arraigned in Claverack Court before Justice Michael Brandon, he was sent to the county jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bail bond and ordered to return to court April 19.
Columbia County Assistant District Attorney David Costanza and the Dr. Stephen and Susan Menkes Child Advocacy Center also assisted in the investigation.
Sheriff Harrison asks anyone with information about similar activities to contact the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Branch at 518 828-4316.
Greenport
Edward Bathrick, 77, of Greenport was charged with predatory sexual assault against a child, an A-II felony, April 16.
State Police at Livingston with the assistance of Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka’s office made the arrest, which stemmed from an investigation into several allegations of child sexual abuse.
Mr. Bathrick was arraigned in Greenport Court and was sent to the Columbia County Jail without bail. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending. Anyone with information related to the arrest or Mr. Bathrick should contact Investigator William Mulrein at 518 851-2893.
Valatie
William J. Martin, 24, of Valatie was charged with fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon by State Police at Kinderhook, April 10 at 1:30 a.m.
Troopers pulled Mr. Martin over on State Route 9 for having an equipment violation. Troopers interviewed the driver and subsequently found brass knuckles in the vehicle.
Mr. Martin was issued tickets returnable in Kinderhook Court.
Craryville
Frank Campbell, 31, of Hillsdale was charged with third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operating without a license, resisting arrest and second degree harassment by Deputies Peter Merante and David Proper, March 27 10:19 a.m.
During a traffic stop on Route 23, Mr. Campbell was found to be driving a motor vehicle without driver’s license and also had his driving privileges suspended. When told he was under arrest, Mr. Campbell allegedly became physically resistant. Deputies Jeffrey Hofstetter, Heath Benansky, K9 Apollo and Trooper John Reppucci responded to assist at the scene. Arraigned in Copake Court before Justice John Spencer, Mr. Campbell was sent to the county jail in lieu of $2,500 cash or $5,000 bail bond and ordered to return to court April 22.
County court cases
CLAVERACK—The following court cases were dealt with in Columbia County Court March 25 to April 1. Information about the cases was provided by the office of Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka:
*Shauna Cripps was sentenced to spend a minimum of 180 days in the Columbia County Jail, 10 years of post-release supervision and to pay a $1,375 fine by Columbia County Judge Jonathan Nichols, March 26. Ms. Cripps pleaded guilty to second degree attempted rape, sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child. She was arrested by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office May 11, 2012 and was represented by the public defender.
* Michael Trinka was sentenced to spend a minimum of one year in the Columbia County Jail by County Judge Richard Koweek, March 27. Mr. Trinka pleaded guilty to possession of a sexual performance by a child. He was arrested by State Police November 12, 2012 and was represented by the public defender.
*Stephen Pinkowski was sentenced to undergo treatment at the Willard Drug Treatment Campus, if he does not successfully complete the program he must spend a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years in prison according to the sentence pronounced by Judge Koweek, March 27. Represented by the public defender, Mr. Pinkowski pleaded guilty to second degree attempted burglary and was arrested by State Police November 20, 2012.
*Francisco Fernandez, represented by the public defender, was arraigned before Judge Koweek, March 29. He was arrested for third degree robbery by Hudson Police, July 6, 2012. His pre-trial hearing(s) were set for June 13 and his trial set for July 29.
