Delaware County and Schoharie County

Senator Peter Oberacker, 51st district

Serves on Alcoholism & Substance Use Disorders Committee, Transportation Committee, Agriculture, Finance, Higher Education and Labor committees.

oberacker@nysenate.gov

Media inquiries: Daniel Koerner
koerner@nysenate.gov
Phone:  607-432-5524

District Office:

41 South Main Street

Oneonta,    NY  13820

Phone:  (607) 432-5524

Albany Office:

188 State StreetLegislative Office Building, Room 506

Albany,    NY  12247

Phone:  518-455-3131

Senator Michelle Hinchey, 41st District, which includes Greene County

Email:  hinchey@nysenate.gov
media contact is: Bianca Coppola
bcoppola@nysenate.gov

Her district office is located at:
721 BroadwaySuite 150,

Kingston,    NY  12401

Phone:  845-331-3810

Fax:  845-331-2083

ALBANY OFFICE

198 State StreetLegislative Office Building, Room 902

Albany,    NY  12247

Phone:  518-455-2350

She chairs the Agriculture Committee and is a member of the:Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation;   Energy and Telecommunications; Environmental Conservation; Finance; Internet and Technology; Joint Senate Task Force on Opioids, Addiction & Overdose Prevention; Legislative Commission on Rural Resources;   Legislative Women's Caucus; and Transportation.

Assemblyman Chris Tague:

Albany Office

LOB 937
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5363
Fax: 518-455-5856

District Office

45 Five Mile Woods Rd.
Suite 3
Catskill, NY 12414
518-943-1371
Fax: 518-943-0223

District Office

113 Park Place
Suite 6
Schoharie, NY 12157
518-295-7250

District Office Directions

taguec@nyassembly.gov

Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

NY Senate Majority Leader
Andrea Stewart-Cousins
LOB 907
Albany, NY 12247
518-455-2585

NY Senate Minority Leader
Rob Ortt
Capitol Building, Room 315
Albany, NY 12247
518-455-2024

Speaker of the NYS Assembly
Carl Heastie
LOB 932
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-3791

U.S. Senate
Charles E. Schumer
322 Hart
Senate Office Building
Washington, DC   20510
202-224-6542

Kristen E. Gillibrand
478 Russell
Senate Office Building
Washington, DC   20510
202-224-4451

U.S. House of Representatives (19th  District of NY)
Josh Riley

District Offices: 

49 Court Street

Suite 210

Binghamton,  NY    13901

Phone:  (607) 242-0200

Leeds

By Appointment

49 Gilfeather Park Road

Unit 1

Leeds,  NY    12451

Phone:  (518) 625-2100

Washington, DC

128 Cannon House Office Building

Washington,  DC    20515

Phone:  (202) 225-5441

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Suspended Registration Arrest

DELHI — Sheriff Craig S. DuMond announced the arrest of a Hamden resident for driving with a suspended New York State Vehicle Registration.

On Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 Sheriff’s Deputies observed a vehicle traveling on State Highway 10 in the Town of Hamden, when Deputies had an active License Plate Reader hit for a suspended registration. Investigation showed registration was suspended for Insurance, not in effect. Upon conducting a traffic stop, Deputies identified the driver of the vehicle as 47-year-old Steven Whittaker of Hamden, NY. A check of Steven’s driver’s license revealed that his driving privileges were suspended in the State of New York for Failure to answer summons.

Deputies subsequently arrested Anthony and issued him traffic summonses for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree, an Unclassified Misdemeanor, Operating a Motor Vehicle while registration is suspended, a Unclassified Misdemeanor, as well as Operating a Motor Vehicle with no Insurance, a violation of the New York State vehicle and traffic law. Steven was released on the traffic summonses and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Hamden Court at a later date to answer the charge.

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DWI Arrest in Kortright

KORTRIGHT — Sheriff Craig S. DuMond announced the arrest of a Newburgh resident for driving while intoxicated following a one car motor vehicle accident.

On Sunday afternoon, January 26th, 2025, Sheriff’s Deputies were patrolling in the Town of Kortright when they were alerted of a motor vehicle accident on County Highway 29 in the Town of Kortright. Sheriff’s Deputies arrived on scene and made contact with the driver, 23-year-old Jillian Bishop, of Newburgh, NY. 

Upon completion of the investigation, Sheriff’s Deputies arrested and charged Bishop with Driving While Intoxicated, Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, both misdemeanors of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. Bishop was issued traffic summonses for Failure to Keep right, Moved from Lane Unsafely, and Open container in a Motor vehicle, which are violations in the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. Deputies were assisted on scene by Davenport Fire and Davenport First Responders.

Bishopp was processed and released on appearance tickets and traffic summonses and is to appear in the Town of Kortright Court at a later date to answer the charges.

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Guilty Plea in Drug Dealing Case

DELHI – Thomas Stanley, 45, of South New Berlin, New York appeared in Delaware County Court on January 21, 2025, before the Honorable John L. Hubbard, and pleaded guilty to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class C Felony.

On April 30, 2023, Officers Terry and Petersen of the Sidney Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a vehicle equipment violation. Upon stopping the vehicle, four individuals were identified including Thomas Stanley. As the officers were processing identification, it was discovered that the driver, Thomas Wright, was the subject of an Order of Protection granted to a separate passenger of the vehicle. Pursuant to office policy, this individual is not being named. Officers requested Mr. Wright step out of the vehicle and impounded the car.  

After impounding the vehicle, Officers secured a search warrant from the Village of Sidney Court to search the vehicle. Upon searching the trunk, officers discovered a black lock box that was unlocked. Officers discovered what was later confirmed by lab analysis to be heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine packaged for sale. Subsequently, Thomas Stanley and Thomas Wright were indicted by the Delaware County Grand Jury and charged with six counts of drug- related felonies.

Over the course of Mr. Stanley’s case, numerous bench warrants were issued for his arrest due to his continual failure to appear in Court when ordered to do so. Mr. Stanley also failed to appear at two separate jury trial dates, causing them to be postponed. On January 10, 2025, Thomas Stanley was apprehended and remanded without bail.

On January 21, 2025, Thomas Stanley appeared before the Delaware County Court and entered a guilty plea to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. It is anticipated per a negotiated agreement, that Mr. Stanley will be sentenced to a determinate prison term of four (4) years to be followed by two (2) years of post-release supervision.

District Attorney Shawn Smith commended law enforcement for their actions in the case, “I want to acknowledge Officers Terry and Petersen of the Sidney Village Police for their actions on April 30, 2023. Because of their hard work, a drug dealer is going to prison.”

DA Smith continued, “This case lingered far longer than was necessary. Thomas Stanley is and was a flight risk from the beginning of this case. At two separate times, juries were summoned to hear the evidence against him and each time Mr. Stanley refused to appear. It was only his repeated refusal, that a bench warrant was finally issued, and Stanley was eventually put in jail. Our position is that drug dealers like Stanley should be in jail while their cases are pending. Mr. Stanley serves as a cautionary tale as only months after his arrest, he was charged again with drug offenses in Chenango County. Bail Reform needs to be reformed so that drug dealers are not skipping across county lines without a care in the world.”

As are all defendants, this defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

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Guilty Plea in Drug Case

DELHI – Delaware County District Attorney Shawn J. Smith announced that Gage Pankiewicz, 23, of Walton, New York pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D Felony, in Delaware County Court on January 21, 2025.

On September 4, 2024, deputies of the Delaware County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at a residence in the Village of Walton on suspicion of drug trafficking. Forcible entry was made, and deputies arrested Gage Pankiewicz, among other suspects. During the search, suspected narcotics later confirmed to be methamphetamine, was recovered by deputies along with a blue substance later confirmed to be fentanyl. Deputies also recovered packaging, scales, and a rifle. 

On January 21, 2025, Gage Pankiewicz pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D Felony.  Judge John L. Hubbard of the Delaware County Court accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for March 18, 2025. Per the negotiated plea agreement, it is expected that Mr. Pankiewicz will be sentenced to a term of five years of felony probation supervision. 

District Attorney Shawn Smith thanked law enforcement for their efforts, “I want to thank Senior Investigator Chris Erwin, Investigator David Barnes, Major John Demeo, Corporal Kyle Karcher and Deputies Zachary Finch, Kyle Karcher, and Robert Mantzouratos for their work on this case. Searching drug houses such as these is never safe, and I am glad that their work has resulted in this conviction.”

DA Smith continued, “My office will continue to partner with law enforcement to remove illegal drugs from our community.  

As are all defendants, individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

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Prison Sentence in Domestic Assault and Jail Assault

DELHI – On January 21, 2025, Dakota Mann, 23, of Walton appeared in Delaware County Court, and was sentenced to an indeterminate prison term of between two and four years for the crime of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, and an additional year for the crime of Assault in the Third Degree.

On May 17, 2024, Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched by 911 to a residence in the Town of Walton for an ongoing domestic. The caller stated that they had, along with another individual, been assaulted by Mr. Mann. The caller stated the assault was ongoing on the other unnamed victim and requested help. Members of the Walton Police Department and the New York State Police responded along with the Deputies. After an investigation, it was determined there was an existing order of protection for one of the unnamed victims. Dakota Mann was placed under arrest and charged with both Criminal Contempt and with Assault. 

Subsequently, Mr. Mann was remanded to the custody of the Delaware County Correctional Facility. On July 1, 2024, while incarcerated, Mr. Mann assaulted a fellow inmate at the jail causing injury. Investigator Cody Tromblee was assigned, and after an investigation, charged Mr. Mann with Assault in the Second Degree. 

Pursuant to a negotiated agreement, Mr. Mann appeared on October 7, 2024, and pled guilty to Criminal Contempt in the First Degree and Assault in the Third Degree. Subsequently, Mr. Mann was alleged to have assaulted a Corrections Officer at the Delaware County Correctional Facility causing his plea agreement for a lesser sentence to be vacated.

On January 21, 2025, Mr. Mann appeared for sentencing before the Honorable John L. Hubbard, Delaware County Court Judge.  Per the parties’ agreement, the sentencing recommendation was increased to an indeterminate two-to-four-year sentence. 

First Assistant District Attorney Schuyler Konior Kinneman noted that this marked the fourth felony conviction on Mr. Mann’s record. For someone so young to have so many, he stated, “was deeply concerning.”

After hearing First ADA Konior Kinneman’s remarks, and after Mr. Mann gave a statement, Judge Hubbard imposed the agreed upon sentence. 

Delaware County District Attorney Shawn Smith thanked law enforcement for their actions in the case. “I want to thank Corporal Kyle Karcher and Deputy Timothy Tryon of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Trooper Corey King of the New York State Police, Chief Joseph D’Addezio and Sergeant Devin Dunphy of the Walton Police Department for their quick reaction on the night of May 17, 2024. I also want to thank Investigator Cody Tromblee of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office for his investigation into the jail assault.

D.A. Smith continued, “This prison sentence reflects our office’s position that domestic violence has no place in Delaware County. An order of protection is not a suggestion, and Mr. Mann’s repeated behavior will result in only more prison time. Violence in our community is never acceptable, and neither is it acceptable in our jail. It cost Mr. Mann an additional year of his life. If he, or anyone in the jail, believes we’ll ignore this sort of behavior, they are gravely mistaken.”

First Assistant District Attorney Schuyler Konior Kinneman prosecuted both cases.

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Man Arrested for Alleged Child Endangerment

STAMFORD — Sheriff Craig S. DuMond announced that a Harpersfield, NY resident has been arrested for Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Harassment Violations, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, and traffic violations, stemming from an investigation that occurred on December 7th, 2024.

On Saturday, December 7th, 2024, Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 911 call for a Domestic Dispute in the Town of Stamford.  Following the investigation of the Domestic Dispute, Glen W. Merwin, age 44 of Harpersfield, was arrested on December 10th, 2024, for two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a misdemeanor per NYS Penal Law, three counts of Harassment, a violation per NYS Penal Law and issued traffic violations.  

Due to the nature of the incident, further charges were pending follow-up. On January 24th, 2025, Merwin was arrested again for Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, a felony per NYS Penal Law.  

Merwin was subsequently arrested and brought to the Delaware County Jail to await the Central Arraignment Process.  

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Criminal Contempt Arrest

WALTON — Sheriff Craig S. DuMond announced that a Village of Delhi resident has been arrested on a Criminal Contempt charge following an investigation of a violation of an Order of Protection that occurred in the Village of Walton. 

On the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 22, 2025, a Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched by Delaware County 911 to a report of a violation of an Order of Protection that occurred in the Village of Walton.  During the course of the investigation, it was found that Alan J. Crosby, age 33 of the Village of Delhi, violated an active Order of Protection by contacting the protected party during the no contact order.  After locating Crosby, he was arrested on one count of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor of the NYS Penal Law.  

Crosby was brought to the Delaware County Jail to await the Central Arraignment Process.

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DuMond Receives Emergency Communicators Award

2025 Dispatcher of the Year. Left to right: Sheriff Craig DuMond, 911 Dispatcher Alan DuMond, 911 Coordinator Mark Rossley)

Albany, NY – Sheriff Craig DuMond is proud to announce that Delaware County 911 Dispatcher Alan DuMond has been honored with the 2025 New York State Emergency Communicators Award by the New York State Sheriffs' Institute. The award was presented on January 21, 2025, during a ceremony held in Albany, NY.

Dispatcher DuMond received this recognition for his exceptional performance during a critical incident on June 30, 2024, where he played a pivotal role in locating a downed aircraft in the Town of Masonville.  While emergency responders were extensively searching by air and land, DuMond utilized his knowledge of flight operations and emergency communications to take decisive action.  He contacted various aviation related state and federal agencies, conducted detailed interviews with eyewitnesses, and utilized his expertise to accurately pinpoint the crash location to emergency responders on the ground. 

Despite the devastating loss of four lives, DuMond's dedication and professionalism demonstrated his critical role in the success of this emergency operation. His actions complimented the efforts of the numerous agencies and emergency responders who contributed to the overall response, highlighting the seamless teamwork and collaboration required in such emergencies.

"Alan's quick thinking, technical expertise, teamwork, and commitment to serving the residents of Delaware County are truly commendable," said Sheriff Craig DuMond. 

In response to receiving the award, Dispatcher DuMond acknowledged that he was simply doing his job.  He expressed his gratitude to his fellow dispatchers, emergency responders, and agencies involved, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in achieving successful outcomes in emergency situations.

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Sheriff’s Deputies Honored with 2024 Deputy of the Year Award by NYS Sheriff’s Institute

Photo, left to right; Deputy Justin Mohr, Deputy Victor Altheim, Corporal Kyle Karcher, Sheriff Craig DuMond

ALBANY – Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond is proud to announce that Corporal Kyle Karcher, Deputy Justin Mohr, and Deputy Victor Altheim of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office have been awarded the prestigious Deputy of the Year Award from the New York State Sheriffs' Institute, January 21, 2025, at their Annual Winter Conference, in recognition of their heroic actions in the line of duty.

On September 4, 2024, all three deputies responded to a shots fired call in the Town of Hancock, where they exhibited extraordinary bravery.  The deputies arrived on the scene to find that a victim had been shot while walking his dog and had retreated into his residence with his girlfriend as the perpetrator allegedly continued firing at their home.

Demonstrating proficient tactical skills, the deputies formulated a rescue plan for the victims.  While Deputy Altheim provided cover, Corporal Karcher and Deputy Mohr navigated overgrown and difficult terrain to reach the victims.  The deputies successfully extricated both victims from the house and utilized their vehicles to transport them to the safety of awaiting EMS personnel.  The shooting victim, presenting significant blood loss, was swiftly treated by EMS personnel and transported by Life Net helicopter for treatment of his injuries.  The swift action by these deputies facilitated the urgent medical care of the shooting victim. 

Sheriff Craig DuMond commended the Deputies for their courage and unwavering dedication to public safety. “Their actions on that day embody the highest standards of law enforcement professionalism and selflessness,” said Sheriff DuMond. “Their bravery and commitment to protecting our citizens reflect the very best of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office.”

Sheriff DuMond expressed his gratitude to all the emergency responders involved in the incident as well as the NYS Police.  Additionally, he thanked the New York State Sheriffs' Institute for recognizing the outstanding efforts of his deputies and reaffirmed his agency’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all Delaware County residents.

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Pistol League Scores

Team and High Individual Match Scores 1/24/2025  Match XIII:

Delhi defeats Rockdale:  1031-8X to 1020-9X

Oneonta Defeats Sidney: 1054-8X to 1034-19X

Walton defeated Stamford:  1097-18X to 1088-18X

Top shooters for Walton were: Carl Banker 276-2X; Brian MacRabie 275-2X; Dennis Bennett 274-8X; and Glenn Bowker 272-6X

Also shooting for Walton were: Justin McAdams, Bill McAdams, Michael Noviello, and Steve Dutcher

Top shooters for Stamford were:  John Wyckoff 284-5X; Javin Traver 272-5X; Jim Hitt 269-4X; and Larry VanDeusen 263-4X

Other Stamford Shooters: Brian Righi, Steve Baker, Gus Mueller, Pat Matice, and Stephen Hansen

Win/Loss Record:

Stamford                               10-1

Walton:                                 10-2

Oneonta:                               8-4

Sidney:                                  3-9

Rockdale:                              3-10

Delhi:                                     2-10    

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