COPAKE—State Police from the Livingston barracks arrested Steven S. Kipp, 22, of Copake for first degree disseminating indecent material to minors, a class D felony; second degree disseminating indecent material to minors, a class E felony, and third degree sexual abuse, a class B misdemeanor, February 22.
After receiving a tip, SP Livingston investigators began looking into possible sex crimes against a child in the Town of Copake in January. The probe determined Mr. Kipp allegedly sent indecent material and allegedly sexually abused a child under the age of 15-years-old.
He was arraigned before Justice Glenn Schermerhorn in Copake Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail.
Statewide fire danger
The Department of Environmental Conservation urges New Yorkers to take extra caution due to this year’s warm and dry winter season. While the statewide burn ban doesn’t take effect until March 16, the majority of the state’s land is dry and brown. Without any new or additional snowfall, the dry, dormant vegetation is primed to burn and facilitate the spread of a wildfire. For more information about fire safety and prevention, go to DEC’s FIREWISE New York website: www.dec.ny.gov › lands
Columbia County
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has received numerous complaints from residents regarding men operating dump trucks and pick-up trucks which contain loads of stone.
Reports indicate the men park on town or county roads and flag down residents or pull into resident’s driveways attempting to make contact with property owners.
The involved men indicate the need to off-load a truck filled with stone, at times offering the product for free. Homeowners are often baited into accepting the free product and in return are asked to provide some type of payment. Homeowners who offer to make payment are then provided a bill in an astronomical amount which, at times, they feel obligated or pressured into paying.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to stay vigilant about such scams and to report any incidents of this nature to the main dispatch number at 518-828-3344.
Remember if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Hound and partner find missing person
Trooper Justin Bell and his bloodhound partner, Tilly. Photo contributed
CLERMONT—State Police responded to an address in Clermont for a report of a missing vulnerable adult, February 17.
With help from the Town of Clermont Highway Superintendent and the Tousey Winery, a last known location for the person was established in a wooded area near the winery despite the victim being missing for about three hours.
Trooper Justin Bell and his bloodhound partner, Tilly located the victim’s trail and began tracking the victim into the woods. While tracking for a half hour, Tilly worked through a swamp and multiple fields before finding the victim, who was wearing light clothing.
With temperatures below freezing and the victim’s vulnerable status, troopers said in a press release, “We are extremely thankful that with the help of our community and the hard work of our members, the victim was found by bloodhound Tilly.”—Diane Valden
Convictions and sentencing announced
HUDSON—Two convictions and a sentencing took place in Columbia County Court, February 21, according to a press release from District Attorney Paul Czajka.
A jury found Perry Daniels, 59, of Hudson guilty of two charges related to the unlawful possession and sale of narcotics—third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and fourth degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug; possession of more than 1/8 ounce of a narcotic. The trial lasted for two days and the jury reached its verdict after 20 minutes of deliberation Tuesday morning.
The defendant has six prior drug-related convictions. The District Attorney credits Deputy Chief ADA Ryan Carty, Hudson Police Detective Sergeant Jason Finn and Detective Nicolas Pierro in the investigation, along with the State Police Violent Gang and Narcotic Enforcement Team. Judge Jonathan Nichols will sentence the defendant May 8. John Hillman represents Mr. Daniels.
*Jason Delamater, 27, of Kinderhook was convicted by plea of third degree rape. Judge Richard M. Koweek will sentence Mr. Delamater April 28. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Investigator KC Bauhoff handled the case.
Joyce Crawford, chief ADA of sex and violent crimes prosecutions in Columbia County, applauded the victim’s courage, the work of the Sheriff’s Office and the three Good Samaritans who stopped to intervene to aid the victim during the attack. Lee Kindlon represents Mr. Delamater.
*Judge Koweek sentenced defendant Jeffrey Yeh, February 17. The defendant had been convicted by plea July 14, 2022 of first degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, a class E felony. (A person is guilty of such a charge when they knowingly and unlawfully act in a manner injurious to the physical mental and moral welfare of a person who is unable to care for himself because of a physical disability, mental disease or defect.)
Judge Koweek imposed a sentence of five years probation. As one of many conditions of his probation, the defendant, formerly known as “Orendack,” is prohibited from the use or access to any electronic bulletin board system, social network, file sharing network, electronic messaging services or internet gaming service that allows for internet communication without the specific permission of the Court and/or Columbia County Probation. The DA referred to the defendant as a “career criminal” who had previously been convicted of numerous crimes, including felonies in Albany County, Columbia County and the State of New Hampshire. Trey Smith represents Mr. Yeh.