HUDSON—A city man was arrested for possessing child pornography, April 1.
Barry S. Rucker, Jr., 30, was charged with one count of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, a class E felony, Sheriff David P. Bartlett said in a press release.
Sheriff’s Office criminal investigators went to 248 Robinson Street, where they executed a search warrant signed by County Court Judge Jonathan Nichols.
During the search and investigation, Mr. Rucker was allegedly found to possess at least one video which contained child pornography. The investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible.
Mr. Rucker was arraigned in Hudson City Court by Judge John Connor and sent to the Columbia County Jail without bail.
Assisting Sheriff’s investigators were deputies, Hudson Police and the Office of the Columbia County District Attorney.
*Hudson Police along with the State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) Capital, arrested two people in a parking lot at Hudson Terrace Apartments, 15 South Front Street, in connection with a drug-related incident, April 2 at 3:15 p.m.
James A. Faulkner, 44, of Hudson was charged with felony third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor loitering and third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Sinico R. Hall, 30, of Hudson was charged with misdemeanor loitering, violations of Hudson City Code for illegally discarding garbage and having an open container.
Officers seized 39 glassine envelopes of heroin and $489 in cash.
Mr. Faulkner is being held pending Hudson City Court arraignment. Mr. Hall was released on an appearance ticket returnable in Hudson City Court April 15.
Ancram
Henry F. Rothvoss, III, 45, of Ancramdale was charged with third degree grand larceny, a class D felony, first degree falsifying business records, a class E felony and first degree offering a false instrument for filing, a class E felony, by State Police from Livingston, April 7.
Mr. Rothvoss allegedly caused false entries to be made in the business records of the New York State Department of Labor by certifying weekly that he was completely unemployed when in fact he was gainfully employed. The weekly certifications enabled him to collect more than $10,000 to which he was not entitled. He was arraigned in Greenport Court and released on his own recognizance.
New Lebanon
Joseph L. Guile, 24, of Pittsfield, MA, was charged with third degree burglary, a class D felony, by State Police from the Livingston Bureau of Criminal Investigation, March 31 at 3:07 p.m.
Following a lengthy investigation, Mr. Guile is accused of burglarizing a New Lebanon area business in June 2013. He allegedly entered the premises when the business was closed and removed merchandise.
At the time of arrest, Mr. Guile was an inmate at the Rensselaer County Jail on unrelated charges.
He was arraigned in Greenport Court and returned to the Rensselaer County Correctional Facility. He is scheduled to appear in court again May 19.
Greenport
Andre T. Elwin, 26, of Brooklyn was charged with third degree bribery, a class D felony, seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, by State Police from Livingston, April 6 at 7:12 p.m.
Troopers stopped the vehicle Mr. Elwin was traveling in on State Route 9, when the driver failed to stop at a stop sign.
With the assistance of State Police K-9 Cahill, Mr. Elwin was found to be in possession of marijuana and MDMA, the hallucinogen known as ecstasy.
While in custody, Mr. Elwin allegedly offered the arresting troopers a large sum of money “to make the evidence and his arrest disappear.”
He was arraigned in Greenport Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail without bail.
Ghent
James M. Kelleher, 42, of Stoughton, MA, was charged with third degree unlawful fleeing a police officer and reckless driving, both class a misdemeanors, along with numerous vehicle and traffic infractions by State Police from Livingston, March 24 at 5:33 p.m.
Mr. Kelleher was arrested after a police pursuit was initiated on State Route 9H, when police saw him operating a tractor trailer while using a handheld cell phone. He allegedly failed to stop for police after lights and sirens were activated. The pursuit lasted for about eight miles and ended in the Town of Kinderhook.
Mr. Kelleher was arraigned in Ghent Court and sent to Columbia County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail. He was scheduled to reappear in Ghent Court at a later date.
Claverack
Joshua B. Bender, 29, of Germantown was charged with one count of official misconduct, a class A misdemeanor, by State Police investigators from Livingston, April 3.
Mr. Bender, a youth division aid at the Office of Children and Family Services Brookwood Secure Center, allegedly knew that a Brookwood resident unlawfully possessed a cell phone and Mr. Bender allegedly communicated with the resident through the use of the cell phone.
The joint investigation by the State Police Livingston Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office into a report of contraband being disseminated in the facility began, March 26.
Mr. Bender was released with an appearance ticket ordering him to re-appear in Claverack Court at a later date. The investigation is ongoing and further charges may be pending.
Kinderhook
Katie M. Haag, 22, of Richmondville was charged with third degree bail jumping, a class A misdemeanor, by State Police from New Lebanon, March 26 at 6:32 p.m.
On March 3, 2014, the Town of Kinderhook Town Court issued an arrest warrant for Ms. Haag after she failed to appear in court. Following a police investigation, it was discovered that Ms. Haag was also wanted on a warrant in the Village of Catskill for petit larceny.
She was arraigned in Stuyvesant Court and ordered to appear in Kinderhook Court at a later date. She was then turned over to the Village of Catskill Police Department.
*Amanda L. Romines, 31, of Schenectady was charged with two counts of petit larceny, a class a misdemeanor, by State Police from Kinderhook, March 29 at 8:55 p.m.
Ms. Romines was charged following a State Police investigation into several reports of the larceny of gasoline from a Kinderhook area gas station. Ms. Romines allegedly committed the March 14 and 29 larcenies.
She was issued appearance tickets ordering her to appear in Kinderhook Village Court.
Stockport
Paul J. Secovnie, 51, of Stockport was charged with second degree criminal contempt, a class A misdemeanor, by Deputies Thomas Bagnall and Jason Garvey, March 24 at 11:30 p.m.
Mr. Secovnie is accused of violating an order of protection. He was arraigned in Stockport Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $500 bail. He will reappear in court at a later date.
Family home lost to fire
Walt Layton, his wife and three kids are without a home after fire engulfed their ranch-style house at 224 State Route 295, Chatham, April 8 at 2:40 p.m. Chatham firefighters arrived to find the flames confined to the back of the house. But high winds quickly fanned the flames and soon the house was fully involved. The narrow driveway prevented trucks from getting water to the scene, Chatham First Assistant Fire Chief Paul Rideout told newsman Lance Wheeler at the scene. Nine fire companies battled the fire. Chatham summoned mutual aid from Ghent, Red Rock, Valatie, East Chatham, Mellenville, Tri-Village, Niverville and Kinderhook.
The Chatham Rescue Squad, the Columbia County Fire Coordinators Office, County EMS Coordinators Office, State police, New York State Electric and Gas were called to the scene along with the County Cause and Origin Team which worked on determining the cause.
Drugs/alcohol
The following face drug- and/or alcohol-related charges:
*Natasha L. Reuter, 31, of Hudson was charged with seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor, by State Police from Livingston, March 24 at 9:40 p.m. Ms. Reuter was found to unlawfully possess a controlled substance when troopers stopped the car she was traveling in for having a suspended registration. She was issued an appearance ticket ordering her to appear in Hudson City Court at a later date.
*Jeremy S. Curtiss, 32, of New Lebanon was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and unlawful possession of marijuana by State Police from New Lebanon, March 29 at 12:24 a.m. Troopers pulled Mr. Curtiss over on Cemetery Road in New Lebanon for speeding, making an unsafe turn and not using a turn signal while making a turn. During an interview, troopers determined that he was intoxicated. Further investigation revealed that Mr. Curtiss possessed marijuana. He provided a breath sample with a .19% blood alcohol content. He was issued tickets returnable in New Lebanon Court at a later date.
*Carl Cazalet, 49, of Valatie was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and vehicle and traffic violations by State Police from Livingston, March 30 at 1 p.m. Troopers responded to a Columbia County 911 call reporting an erratic vehicle traveling north on the Taconic State Parkway. Troopers found and stopped the vehicle on the parkway in Gallatin. Troopers detected the odor of alcoholic beverage and administered sobriety tests which Mr. Cazalet failed. He submitted to a breath test which revealed a .18% blood alcohol content. Mr. Cazalet was issued tickets returnable in Gallatin Court.
