LIVINGSTON–A 72-year-old Hudson man apparently drowned in a pond off Sparrowbush Road, the morning of July 14.
Deputies Eli Fieser and Chad Shumway arrived on the scene of the water emergency at 9:42 a.m.
They found that Tommy Hunt of Hudson and his 74-year-old friend of Catskill had been fishing in the pond from a small fishing boat. The boat capsized sending Mr. Hunt and his companion into the water.
Mr. Hunt could not get out of the water, but his fishing partner did get out and went to a nearby farm to call for help, according to a press release from Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison, Jr.
The farmer called 911 and the Livingston Fire Department and Northern Dutchess Paramedics were summoned.
Livingston firefighter Guy Hughes Jr. was the first on the scene and saw Mr. Hunt face down in the water. Mr. Hughes pulled him to shore and found Mr. Hunt had no pulse and was not breathing.
Mr. Hughes began CPR, but to no avail. Mr. Hunt was pronounced dead at the scene by Columbia County Coroner Roberta Davis.
Captain David Bartlett, Senior Investigator William Foster, Investigator Anthony Braham, First Sergeant Wayne Lopez and Deputy Cindy Madison along with the Sheriff’s Office Dive Team responded to the scene as well.
Sheriff Harrison said an investigation into why the boat overturned is continuing and an autopsy was scheduled July 15 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany.
*Husband and wife, Ronald D. Hoyt, Jr., 29, and Casey D. Hoyt, 27, both of Valatie, were charged with fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, a class E felony, by State Police at Livingston, July 19.
According to Senior Investigator Gary Mazzacano, the Hoyts allegedly stole necklaces and rings valued at $3,000 from one of Mrs. Hoyt’s relatives in Livingston, then pawned the stolen goods at a jewelry store in Greenport for $500.
Mrs. Hoyt was arraigned in Livingston Court before Justice Robert Q. Moore and was sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond. Mr. Hoyt was arraigned in Greenport Court before Justice Robert Brenzel and was jailed in lieu of $500 cash or bond.
Canaan/Chatham
Two men face multiple felony charges in connection with the thefts of checks from area residents.
Craig A. Williams, 27, of East Chatham was charged with petit larceny, second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and second degree identity theft by State Police, June 30.
On March 17, a Columbia County resident reported to State Police that his bank informed him that a man came in with a check of his that was falsely endorsed and tried to cash it. The bank would not cash the check. After investigation, police identified Mr. Williams as the man. He was arraigned in New Lebanon Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail. He will answer the forged instrument and identity theft charges in Chatham Village Court, and faces the petit larceny charge in Canaan Court, the town the check was stolen from.
On April 19, a second county resident reported that numerous checks were stolen from his residence and cashed, amounting to more than $4,000.
Troopers determined the checks were stolen by Mr. Williams, who had done work at the victim’s house. Mr. Williams was charged with first degree identity theft, third degree grand larceny and six counts of second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, June 30. He was arraigned in Claverack Court and sent to jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Robert E. Wasson, 33, of Kinderhook was charged with fourth degree grand larceny and one count of second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument by troopers June 28.
Mr. Wasson had allegedly cashed some of the checks that Mr. Williams had allegedly stolen from the second complainant. He was arraigned in Ghent Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail.
Chatham Police report charging Mr. Williams with six felony counts of second degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, July 7 at 3:45 p.m. Mr. Williams allegedly stole checks from the home of a local man and cashed them at a local bank and business. He was arraigned before Chatham Village Justice Mark Portin and released pending a future court date.
Chatham
Lizzie Lonton, 60, of Hudson was charged with two counts of second degree criminal contempt and second degree criminal trespass by Chatham Police, July 7 at 10:40 a.m. Police investigated two separate incidents in which Ms. Lonton allegedly went to a private residence in the village in violation of a Chatham Village Court Order of Protection. She allegedly entered the residence and harassed the inhabitant. Hudson Police arrested Ms. Lonton on a Chatham warrant and turned her over to Chatham PD. She was arraigned and sent to the county jail in lieu of $2,500 bail pending a future appearance in village court.
Claverack
Joshua D. Daley, 24, of Claverack was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and second degree harassment by Sheriff’s Office Sergeant William Zincio, July 17 at 9:50 p.m.
Mr. Daley allegedly made an obscene gesture using vulgar and inappropriate language to a 10-year-old girl. He also allegedly made verbal threats to another person. Mr. Daley was arraigned in Claverack Court before Town Justice Michael Brandon. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return to court at a later date.
Greenport
Ryan Bishop, 18, of Niverville was charged with third degree assault by State Police at Kinderhook, June 7.
Mr. Bishop was involved in a fight at the Questar III School on Route 66, during which he allegedly caused injuries to another student. The other student required medical treatment at Columbia Memorial Hospital. Mr. Bishop was released with an appearance ticket returnable in Kinderhook Town Court.
Kinderhook
Andrew Powell, 20, of Valatie was charged with fourth degree criminal mischief by State Police at Kinderhook, May 29.
Troopers were called to Marna Lane for a reported disturbance. Mr. Powell allegedly damaged a door and door frame at the residence. He was arraigned in Kinderhook Village Court and released.
New Lebanon
David Smith, 34, of New Lebanon was charged with disorderly conduct, third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and other violations by State Police at New Lebanon, June 16.
Troopers stopped Mr. Smith after another motorist complained that Mr. Smith unsafely passed him then cut him off on State Route 20.
During the stop, Mr. Smith allegedly yelled and swore at the trooper while in the parking lot of local business where he had pulled over. The trooper found that Mr. Smith’s license was suspended. He was released with tickets returnable in New Lebanon Court.
Drugs/alcohol
The following face drug- and/or alcohol-related charges:
*Matthew McCarthy, 31 of Cranston, RI, Joseph P. Murabito, 38 of Lawrence, Massachusetts and Eric A. Wineland, 30 of Jackson, Michigan were charged with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class B felony. In addition, both Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Wineland were charged with class A misdemeanors: second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia and seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, as well as, unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation by State Police on the Thruway during a traffic stop on the Berkshire Spur in Canaan, June 2, just before 5 p.m.
The car was pulled over because the driver was not wearing his seatbelt, according to police, who report that a strong odor of marijuana was coming from the vehicle. Occupants surrendered a small quantity of the drug along with several smoking pipes and a vial containing hashish. During a search of the car, nearly four ounces of a white powdery substance, which tested positive for MDMA, a/k/a ecstasy, was discovered. The men were arraigned in Canaan Court before Justice Lewis Hatch and were each sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bail bond, pending a return court appearance.
*Kristen Carinci, 26, of East Nassau was charged with driving while ability impaired by alcohol, third degree aggravated unlicensed operation and criminally possessing a hypodermic instrument by Trooper Nicholas Lombardi during a traffic stop for speeding on Route 20, New Lebanon the night of June 3. Ms. Carinci was allegedly alcohol impaired, had a suspended driver’s license and a hypodermic needle. She is scheduled to appear in New Lebanon Court at a later date.
*John Wallace, 23, of New Lebanon was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs and unlawful possession of marijuana by Troopers John La Plante and Nicholas Lombardi during a traffic stop on Route 20, New Lebanon early the morning of June 4. Mr. Wallace was stopped for crossing the center lines. Troopers say he was impaired by marijuana and was in possession of the drug. He was issued tickets to appear New Lebanon Court.
*Shay Smith, 20, of West Lebanon was charged with illegal use of nitrous oxide, possession of alcohol by a person under 21 and unlawful possession of marijuana by Trooper Nicholas Lombardi during a traffic stop for a loud exhaust in West Lebanon, the night of June 4. He allegedly possessed nitrous oxide capsules, inhalation paraphernalia, marijuana and several bottles and cans of beer. He will answer the charges in New Lebanon Court.
*John P. Jones, 62, of Chatham was charged with felony driving while intoxicated during a traffic stop on Church Street by Chatham Police, June 5 at 1:34 a.m. He was arraigned in village court and sent to the county jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail pending a village court date.
*Travis McCauley, 19, of Old Chatham McCauley was charged with third degree aggravated unlicensed operation and unlawful possession of marijuana by Trooper Nicholas Lombardi, June 5. State Police were called to investigate a suspicious person in the parking lot of the EZ Mart, Route 20, New Lebanon. They found Mr. McCauley had driven to the business using a suspended driver’s license and had marijuana with him. He was issued tickets to appear in New Lebanon Court.
*Jonathan R. Barnes, 53, of Ghent, was charged with a felony count of driving while intoxicated by State Police after he crashed into a ditch and overturned his vehicle on the Taconic State Parkway in Clinton, June 5 at about 7 p.m. An open container of an alcoholic beverage was found inside his vehicle. He sustained minor cuts and was taken to St. Francis Hospital for treatment. He also submitted to a blood test. Troopers report that Mr. Barnes had a DWI conviction in Chatham Village Court in 2008, which led to the felony charge. He was issued tickets to appear in Clinton Court.
*John Labelle, 17, of Hudson was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs by State Police at Livingston, June 7. The teenager was stopped for driving east in the westbound lane of Gahbauer Road in Claverack. He was released on tickets returnable in Claverack Court.
To contact Diane Valden email dvalden@columbiapaper.com.
