Week of November 18 – November 24, 2016
Stop-DWI PSA to Screen in Local Cinemas BALLSTON SPA — Moviegoers in Saratoga County will soon see a 30-second public service announcement before regularly scheduled films, as Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo kicks-off the Holiday Season with a cautionary video about the dangers of drinking and driving. The short video depicts men and women of various ages entering a sobriety checkpoint, conducting a sobriety field test, being arrested and their vehicles towed, while sheriff deputies echo the message to be responsible and don’t drink and drive. The Stop-DWI PSA will run in Regal Cinema’s in Saratoga County from November through December and reach an estimated 70,000 moviegoers.
COURTS
Edward J. Wager, 35, of Caroga Lake NY was sentenced on Nov. 9 to serve up to 15 years in prison for an alcohol-related crash that occurred in the town of Providence in June 2015 and caused the death of his passenger, Roxanne Opalka, according to the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office. “The maximum sentence imposed today by Judge Murphy reflects the consequences appropriate for someone found guilty after trial of operating an ATV with a BAC of .19 and causing the death of another person after having been previously convicted twice in the past 10 years of alcohol related offenses,” District Attorney Karen A. Heggen said in a statement. Wager was convicted in July by a Saratoga County Trial Jury of multiple felony counts of vehicular manslaughter and DWI charges. Robert L. Johnson, 30, of Hudson Falls, was sentenced on Nov. 2 to serve 1.5-3 years in state prison, after pleading to fourth-degree grand larceny. Joshua
J.
Smith,
35,
of
Schenectady, was sentenced on Nov. 2 to eight months in Saratoga County Jail, after pleading to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree. Elliott Q. Ruggles, 24, of Gansevoort, pleaded on Nov. 3 to felony DWAI. Sentencing is scheduled to take place Jan. 11. Henry J. Desnoyers, 45, of Waterford, pleaded on Nov. 3 to aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree. Sentencing is scheduled to take place Jan. 11. Kevin S. Bishop, 40, of Albany, pleaded on Nov. 3 to criminal mischief in the third degree. Sentencing is scheduled to take place Jan. 11. Yadwinder Singh, 31, of Elmhurst, pleaded on Nov. 2 to felony DWI. Sentencing is scheduled to take place Jan. 11. Dusty G. Pederson, 45, of Scotia, pleaded on Nov. 1 to felony DWI. Sentencing is scheduled to take place Jan. 11.
POLICE Ganesh N. Bhagwandin, 21, of Schenectady, was charged on Nov. 4 with criminal possession of stolen property – a felony, and theft of services due to a stolen credit card, a misdemeanor. Daniel J. Urschel, 43, of Delmar, was charged on Nov. 4 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, and a vehicle equipment violation. Robert J. Stampfli, 25, of Glens Falls, was charged on Nov. 4 with criminal possession of a controlled substance, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle – both misdemeanors, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Satin L. Dewitt, 29, of Saratoga Springs, was charged on Nov. 4 and Nov. 1, with
BLOTTER 5 second-degree criminal trespass, criminal contempt, and harassment, all misdemeanors. John Valentin, 21, of Saratoga Springs, was charged on Nov. 4 with felony criminal mischief. Paul M. Fulghum, 53, of Malta, was charged on Nov. 4 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, and a vehicle equipment violation. Chen Qing, 43, of Malta, was charged on Nov. 3 with misdemeanor criminal trespass. Joseph J. Deschenes, 45, of Saratoga Springs, was charged on Nov. 3 with misdemeanor criminal trespass. Andrew D. Cecala, 21, of Ballston Spa, was charged on Nov. 3 with fourth-degree stalking, a misdemeanor.
Mark T. Bay, 45, of Elmira, was charged on Nov. 2 with misdemeanor DWI and failing to keep to the right side of the lane. Meagan M. Greenway, 31, of Ballston Spa, was charged on Nov. 2 with criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor. Margaret C. Sansiveri, 66, of Saratoga Springs, was charged on Nov. 2 with criminal possession of a controlled substance, and criminally using drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors.
Stayson P. Mayfield, 26, of Saratoga Springs, was charged on Nov. 1 with criminal trespass in the third degree, a misdemeanor. Louis H. Bramen, 50, of Wilton , was charged on Nov. 1 with third-degree burglary, a felony. Benjamin T. Kubicek, 23, of Jefferson, Wisconsin, was charged on Nov. 1 with misdemeanor DWI and a vehicle equipment violation.