WCDO Radio News

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested 42 year old Michael Bishop of Sherburne for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, Possession of a Controlled Substance outside of the original container & other Traffic Offenses. Deputies arrested Bishop during a traffic stop in the Town of Norwich, where Bishop was found to be operating a motor vehicle while having his driving privileges suspended on several occasions by several different courts. Bishop was also found to be in possession of suboxone that was not in a prescription container. Bishop was arraigned in the Town of Norwich Court and remanded on $500 cash bail; he will reappear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.

A Village of Sidney resident was arrested by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office for 2nd degree Burglary. 27 year old Nicole See is accused of unlawfully entering a Village of Afton residence and stealing an unspecified item; See was arraigned in the Town of Afton Court and was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional facility on $10,000 cash bail. See is to reappear in the Town of Afton Court at a later date.

Delaware county District Attorney Richard Northrup announced his intentions to seek the office of Delaware county judge. Northrup’s announcement follows that announced Retirement of current judge Carl Becker, who will be retiring on July 31st. Northrup has served as Delaware county D.A. for 19 years.

The jury continues to deliberate in Schoharie County Court today in the 3rd Cal Harris Murder trial. The jury reported that they were deadlocked, but judge Barkett ordered the jury to continue deliberations. The trial lasted over 11 weeks this time around; the previous 2 trials were in Harris's home county of Tioga. He is on trial for the murder of his estranged wife Michelle in September of 2001.

State Police arrested 36-year-old Alex Siltanen of Meridale for Driving While Intoxicated. This arrest occurred after Troopers responded to a Delaware County 911 report of a car on fire just off of State Highway 23 in the Town of Davenport. An investigation determined that the driver, who was the only occupant, had drifted off the westbound lane and struck a pole causing his vehicle to ignite and become fully engulfed. Siltanen had been transported to A.O. Fox Hospital but ended up having no injuries. He consented to test of his blood for alcohol and the lab results are pending. Siltanen was issued tickets returnable to the Town of Davenport Court on May 12, 2015.

Delaware County Court Judge Carl Becker has announced that he will retire, as of July 31st of this year. Becker was first elected as judge in 2002; he was re-elected to a 2nd 10-year term in 2012. An interim judge will be appointed after Becker’s retirement takes effect.

Many local fire fighters are heading to Ulster County, to try to help contain a forest fire. Evacuations were under way in upstate Ulster County Monday evening due to a major forest fire. The fire started Sunday afternoon in Summitville in Sullivan County and moved east to Ulster County. The fire destroyed about 1,000 acres late Monday; it then crossed State Route 52, which forced the evacuation of the hamlet of Cragsmoor. State Route 52 is closed from Ellenville to Monticello.

The indictment accusing former Walton High School teacher Stephanie Fletcher of raping 2 male students was dismissed by Delaware County judge Carl Becker, who found the grand jury was impaired by inconsistent statements made by 1 of the alleged victims.  Fletcher was arrested in November of 2012 on charges she had sex with two 16 year old Walton students.

19-year-old Darren VanDeusen of Mount Vision was convicted in Otsego county court on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual act for sodomizing a 10-year-old girl in Milford. State police arrested VanDeusen last December following an investigation when the victim complained to her parents about the attack; VanDeusen has been remanded to Otsego County Correctional Facility without bail.

THE Absentee ballots in Delaware County have been tabulated, and incumbent County Judge Carl Becker won over Gary Rosa for the 10-year position. Voters returned Becker to office by 190 votes with a final vote count of 9,139 for Becker & 8,949 for Rosa.