WCDO Radio News

The Broome County District Attorney's Office announced that 38 year old Jeremiah Raub of New Milford Pennsylvania was released on $150,000 bail. Raub was charged with murder and arson in connection with a fatal house fire on Milford Street in Binghamton in 2011 that killed 17 year old Jeffrey Aissa, he was arrested by Binghamton Police last Month. Raub was placed on a pre-release program and will be monitored by Broome County Probation through a GPS ankle monitor, His next court date is scheduled for May 15th, the investigation into the fire remains active.

Les Gregory of Sidney will turn 100 years old on Sunday, there will be Celebration for Gregory on Saturday at the Sidney Fire Station, Mr. Gregory told WCDO News of how he made it to 100 yeas of age & how he is humbled by all the attention he has received:

(Les Gregory 3-31-23)

Area resident Larry Halbert has known Les Gregory since he was a boy & he told WCDO News about Mr. Gregory:

(Larry Halbert 3-31-23)

Halbert said that Gregory served in the Army Air Core, which turned into the Air force, over 28 years, he operated his own insurance business, volunteered in the Sidney & other Fire Departments for over 70 years, he created the Delaware County Arson Task Force and is a long time Sidney Rotary member. Halbert said that every Sidney household will get a copy of the Walton Reporter this week, which spotlights Les Gregory's life. WCDO will air the full interview with Les Gregory following the 6:00 PM News tonight, and again tomorrow immediately following the WCDO Birthday Club at 9:30 AM.

Broome County District Attorney Mike Korchak announced that Philip Garcia of Endicott, pleaded guilty to felony Arson. Garcia admitted that on May 2, 2021, in the Village of Endicott, he intentionally damaged property by setting a fire on a stove inside a Hillside Court apartment and the interior of a motor vehicle, by lighting objects inside the car on fire, after a domestic dispute with a 31-year-old female in the Village. The fire in the apartment was put out by residents with minimal smoke damage. The Endicott Fire Department responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the car fire. The vehicle sustained interior damage. Garcia, who has a criminal history dating back to 1992, will be sentenced to 5 years in New York State prison followed by 2 1/2 years post release supervision on June 9, 2023.

The Endicott Police Department arrested 44 year old David Scanlin for 3rd degree burglary, Grand Larceny and & 3rd degree Arson. Back on January 11th, Scanlin is accused of setting fire to a vehicle parked at J&K Auto Clinic, later that day, Scanlin is accused of stealing a vehicle on the lot at Tank's Auto Sales. Scanlin was remanded to the Broome County Jail without bail.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the availability $38.2 million in state funding to establish 8 Safe Options Support teams that will provide services to homeless individuals in area outside of New York City. The teams will be modeled after ones providing assistance to unsheltered individuals in New York City and will be deployed in areas of the state with high rates of street homelessness.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 1-18-23

The Broome County District Attorney's Office announced that Thomas Kurtz of Whitney Point pleaded guilty to felony Attempted Assault. Kurtz admitted that on August 13, 2021, punched a corrections officer in the forehead causing a laceration that required stitches, while Kurtz was an inmate at the jail. Kurtz was convicted in 2019 for Attempted Arson, he will be sentenced to 2 to 4 years on the latest charge on April 3rd.

The Johnson City Police Department arrested 64 year old Thomas Taber, who is accused of setting his home on fire at 15 Columbus Place on January 6th. Taber was charged him with 3rd degree Arson the fire was quickly extinguished by the Johnson City and Binghamton fire departments, Taber was taken to Broome County central arraignment. He was released & will answer to the charge ion court at a later date.

Norwich Police have arrested 38 year old Matthew Lamb of Norwich, on charges of 4th degree arson, criminal mischief, & reckless endangerment, for allegedly using a blow torch to kill insects at his apartment at 12 State Street in Norwich Monday Night. Firefighters from the Norwich Fire Department, & the North Norwich Fire Department responded, no injuries were reported.

New Yorkers enrolled in the SNAP will receive the maximum allowable level of food benefits for October. All households participating in SNAP — including those already at the maximum level of benefits — will receive a supplemental allotment this month, resulting in a roughly $234 million infusion of federal funding into the State economy.

A.M. NEWS FRIDAY 10-21-22

State Police arrested 66 year old Raymond Sidlauskas of Afton for 2nd degree Arson, for intentionally setting a trash can on fire and caused tens thousands of dollars of damage to a Bassett Hospital room and medical equipment. Several rooms were evacuated due to the fire and over a dozen patients, including nurses and a security guard were treated for smoke inhalation. The fire was extinguished by employees at the hospital. Sidlauskas was arrested and was transported to the Otsego County Jail for Centralized Arraignment.

P.M. NEWS THURSDAY 9-29-22

State Police arrested 27 year old Gerard Bourgeois of Otego for 2nd degree Burglary & 3rd degree Arson, Police responded on Monday just before 8:00 PM to a report of a suspicious person in the area of Pleasant Valley Road in the town of Hartwick, troopers heard smoke alarms & observed smoke coming from a residence on Bunn Hill Road. The troopers notified area Firefighters & entered the home, they found an active fire at a gas stove, they could not turn off the stove due to the damage to the controls, & instead turned the propane tanks outside. Troopers responded to another report of a suspicious person near the Hartwick Restaurant on State Highway 205, when they located Bourgeois. Bourgeois was arraigned at Otsego County Centralized Arraignment and remanded to the Otsego County Jail on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond pending court action on October 12th.

The Broome County District Attorney’s Office announced that 58 year old Loretta Washington of Binghamton was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison followed by 2 1/2 years of post-release supervision, after pleading guilty to attempted arson. Washington set fire to a doormat that was outside of an apartment last October in Binghamton, the fire was quickly extinguished and that there were no injuries.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 9-14-22

The Village of Sidney will be seeking community input with their Resilient Sidney program today, Sidney Village Mayor Andy Matviak commented:

(Andy Matviak 9-6-22)

The Community meeting will be held tonight from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at the Community Cultural Center at 1 Bridge Street, more information about the program is available at resilient-sidney.com/nyforward.

P.M. NEWS Wednesday 8-3-22

Delaware County Sheriff's Office arrested 34 year old Amanda Nodine of Delhi & 25-year-old Chance Byington of Colchester, after Deputies received a call Sunday from a Home owner reporting that his personal property in the Town of Delhi had been set on fire. Deputies charged Nodine with Criminal Contempt for Violating an active Order of protection, plus 1 count each of Arson & Criminal Mischief. Deputies charged Byington for Criminal Mischief & Arson. Nodine was arraigned in the Town of Hamden Court, an order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim, and she was released in her own recognizance will appear in Town of Delhi Court at a later date. Byington was also released on an Appearance Ticket returnable to the Town of Delhi Court at a later date.

The Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task arrested 50-year-old David Rexer of Endicott for attempted murder, conspiracy, and attempted arson, Rexer is accused of conspiring with a 2nd person to commit arson on a home with people inside in the Village of Endicott. Rexer was sent to the custody of the Broome County Sheriff’s Correctional Facility.

P.M. NEWS FRIDAY 5-6-22

Norwich City Police arrested 42 year old Todd Jackson of Norwich for allegedly setting a dumpster on fire at a Norwich senior living facility in the early morning hours on Saturday, April 30th. The fire damaged the dumpster & surrounding fences, The Norwich Fire department quickly extinguished the fire and no injuries were reported. Jackson was arrested Thursday for 2nd & 3rd degree criminal mischief and 5th degree arson, he was arraigned in Norwich City Court and held on $10,000 bail.

The State Office of Cannabis Management announced proposed regulations for the Medical Cannabis Program that implement certain provisions of the state’s new Cannabis Law. The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act included updates to the program designed to consider environmental impacts and create efficiencies, & also includes technical changes to the regulations to formally shift the program from the Department of Health to Office of Cannabis Management. The regulations were submitted to the Cannabis Control Board for its review and approval at its meeting on Thursday, i the Board approves, the regulations will advance to a 60-day public comment period.

A.M. NEWS Wednesday 2-16-22

The Binghamton Police Department arrested 36 year old Marquetta James of Connecticut for 2nd degree arson, in connection with the fire at 159 Conklin Avenue yesterday. Binghamton Police Detectives found James at a local hotel, Authorities stated that James was an acquaintance to 1 of the residents in the building. 20 adults and 9 children were displaced by the fire.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 12-29-21

The Norwich Police Department arrested 54 year old Steven Manwarren of Norwich for 2nd degree Arson, Reckless Endangerment, & criminal Mischief, following the investigation into a fire at 30 Cortland Street at about 12:10 Tuesday morning. Manwarren is accused of intentionally setting a fire in his apartment, residents in other apartments escpaeescaped without injury, Manwarren was arraigned at Norwich City Court and held without bail pending a felony hearing.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 11-9-21

State Police at Endwell arrested 32 year old James Kvassay of the town of Union on Sunday, for the felony 3rd degree Arson. Troopers were dispatched to assist with a house fire on Foster Street in the town of Union, their investigation revealed that Kvassay allegedly intentionally set the residence on fire, he was arrested & was transported to Broome County Central Arraignment and Processing.

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office arrested 50 year old Susan Raczkowski of Milford following a wood shed fire June 17th that was deemed suspicious by the Milford Fire Department.   Raczkowski was charged with 4th-degree arson and criminal mischief; she was issued an appearance ticket and will return to court at a later date.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 6-23-21

The trial of Dylan Robinson was turned over to the Jury in Otsego County Court today and they have determined that Robinson is guilty of 2nd degree murder, 1st degree burglary, he was found not guilty on the arson charge.   Robinson was accused of acting with 5 others in killing his father, Kenneth Robinson after robbing him, and then setting the father's house in Worcester on fire in October 2019.

P.M. NEWS TUESDAY 6-1-21

The Otsego County Sheriff's Department arrested 49-year-old Jason Tracy of Cherry Valley for 3rd & 4th Degree Arson.  Tracy is accused of setting a fire that damaged a camper & a farmhouse on May 22nd in the town of Springfield; he was arraigned then released on his own recognizance pending an appearance in Town of Springfield court at a later date.

Norwich City Police arrested 38 year old Jason Beardsley of Norwich for 3rd & 5th degree arson, for allegedly setting a fire at 57 Cortland Street in Norwich on May 4th.  Beardsley will face court action at a later date.

State Police arrested 34 year old Jason Manderville of Oneonta for Menacing & Petty Larceny, after Troopers were dispatched to a domestic dispute on Oneida Street in the town of Oneonta. Manderville allegedly threatened a victim with a chainsaw, he was located in a wooded area behind his residence and arrested, & he was processed and virtually arraigned & was released on his own recognizance and order to appear in the town on Oneonta court on April 6, 2021. The victim was issued a stay away order of protection. Later on the same day State Police arrested Manderville for Arson and Criminal Contempt, after Troopers, Oneonta Fire Department and Oneonta EMS were dispatched to a house fire where troopers arrested Manderville a few hours earlier. Troopers located Manderville in a wooded area near State Highway 205 and he was taken into custody. Manderville was arraigned on the new charges & was remanded to the Otsego County Jail on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.

35 year old Kenneth Fink of New Berlin man was arrested Friday on an active Arrest Warrant issued by the Chenango County Court following a Sealed indictment. The Chenango County District Attorney's Office presented an Arson case to the Chenango County Grand Jury, Fink was indicted for 3rd degree Arson, Fink was arraigned in the Chenango County Court and released until a later Court date. It is alleged that On March 1, 2020, Kenneth R. Fink set fire to his residence located at 4322 State Highway 80 in the Town of Columbus.

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a Town of Walton residence after a vehicle sustained extensive damage, a garage was forcefully entered and a fire had been set the night of January 23rd.  The victim’s vehicle was intentionally damaged by a 17-year-old female, the doors of a garage on the property were then kicked in by a second 17-year-old female, they entered the building and started a “bon fire”.  Deputies charged both teens with arson and criminal mischief,  both were issued appearance tickets for Delaware County Youth Court at a later date.

The sentencing of Anais Soto of Oneonta in Otsego County Court has been delayed a 2nd time, Soto pleaded guilty to a 1st degree burglary charge in connection with the robbery & murder of Kenneth Robinson in Worcester, and the subsequent arson of Robinson's home in October 2019.  A new sentencing hearing for Soto was scheduled for May 10th.  Others arrested in connection with the Robinson case included his son, Dylan Robinson, plus Alexander Borgreen, Alexis Lotterman of Walton & Tatiana Febo of Downsville; Nicolas Meridy has already been sentenced to 22 years to life in prison for his role in the case.

State Police arrested 54-year-old Robert Trella on an arson charge following the investigation of a suspicious fire at 305 Pease Hill Road in the town of Barker Monday afternoon.  Trella lived in the home, no one else was inside at the time of the fire, he was arraigned and released on his own recognizance & will appear in court at a later date.

A.M. NEWS TUESDAY 12-29-20

Governor Cuomo signed the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020, which prevents residential evictions, foreclosure proceedings, credit discrimination and negative credit reporting related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also extends the Senior Citizens' Homeowner Exemption and Disabled Homeowner Exemption from 2020 to 2021. The Act adds to New York State's efforts to protect tenants and homeowners from the economic hardship incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

P.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 11-11-20

50 year old Richard Millard of Vestal was sentenced to 6 years in prison for starting a fire that caused Home Central in Vestal, to burn down in February. Millard was charged with 2nd degree arson, he pleaded guilty in August in Broome County Court & was sentenced there Tuesday.

The Otsego County District Attorney’s office announced that Nicolas Meridy of Oneonta has pleaded guilty in a plea bargain arrangement & will serve 22 years to life.  Meridy was arrested along with several others following the murder of Kenneth Robinson in Worcester & the arson fire at Robinson house after the fatal shooting, in October of last year.

State Police arrested 24 year old Alexander Hartman of Binghamton for 2nd degree Burglary and 3rd degree Arson.  On August 9, Troopers and the Nanticoke Fire Department were dispatched to a garage fire, an investigation revealed that Hartman broke into a residence to steal items then started a fire in the garage.  Hartman was arrested and processed at the Binghamton barracks & he was later transported to Broome County Central Arraignment and Processing.

50 year-old Richard Millard pleaded guilty to arson Monday for the fire at Home Central in Vestal on February 13th.  There were no injuries in the fire; the company will rebuild the warehouse.

The murder & arson fire cover-up case of 16 year old Jeffrey Franklin of the town of Guilford, will be featured on the Investigation Discovery Channel tonight at 10:00 PM on the program "The Murder Tapes” Franklin was the disabled teenager killed by his parents Ernest & Heather Franklin, who then tried to cover up the boy's death by setting the family residence on fire, closely echoing the plot of the movie "Manchester By The Sea", the incident occurred back on February 28th 2017.

Gabriel Truitt of Oneonta was sentenced to life in prison without parole in Otsego County Court this morning.  Truitt was convicted earlier this year on charges of 1st & 2nd degree murder plus arson, for setting a fire at Walling Avenue in Oneonta, former Oneonta Firefighter John Heller died in the fire while helping to evacuate people from the burning building.