WCDO Radio News

The Otsego County Fair will be held at the Fairgrounds in Morris this year, spokesperson Lisa Jones told WCDO some of this year’s highlights:

(Lisa Jones 7-8-26)

The Otsego County Fair runs from August 4th to August 9th this year.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 7-8-26

Former Oneida County Corrections Officer Thomas Eck appeared in Oneida County Court on Tuesday, he had pleaded guilty to offering a false instrument for filing, for his role in the beating death of inmate Messiah Nantwi at the Mid State Correctional Facility, Eck was sentenced to 1 year in jail, he was the 15th Corrections officer in Oneida County to be prosected in connection with the death of Nantwi & Robert Brooks. The 2 cases have led to proposed legislation, the Duty to Intervene Act, making it a felony to not intervene while one of your fellow officers is beating an inmate.

Former Mid-State Corrections Officer Caleb Blair accepted a plea deal for 1st Degree Manslaughter in Oneida County Court Monday for 11 years in Jail, rather than go to trial on a host of charges in connection with the death of inmate Messiah Nantwi. Blair acknowledged in Court that it was his boot print on Nantwi's forehead.

An Oneida County jury found former Corrections Officer Jonah Levi NOT Guilty of Murder in the death of inmate Messiah Nantwi, he was convicted of manslaughter, gang assault, and filing a false instrument, Levi will be sentenced May 27th in Oneida County Court.

Former Mid State Correctional Facility Officer Francis Chandler, accepted a plea deal in Oneida County Court Thursday, in connection with the death of inmate Messiah Nantwi in March. Chandler was originally charged with manslaughter, he pleaded guilty to gang assault in exchange for a 4-year prison sentence, when sentenced in January.

Former corrections officer David Ferrone pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence and will receive a 3-year conditional discharge when sentenced in December. Ferrone is the 5th officers to plead guilty in connection with the Messiah Nantwi death at Mid State Correctional facility in March.

Nicholas Vitale pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Oneida County Court, to attempted offering a false instrument for filing, Vitale acknowledged submitting a false form, in an attempt to stop any investigation by State Police, State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the Attorney General's Office, into the death of Messiah Nantwi at the Midstate Correctional Facility in March. Vitale was also sentenced on Tuesday to a $750 fine, $200 State surcharge and $50 DNA fee. He also had to agree to resign from his job.

2 corrections officers charged in the beating death of Mid-State Correctional Facility inmate Messiah Nantwi appeared in Oneida County Court last week. Craig Klemick turned down a plea offer on Friday morning, he will return to court in August, as did Caleb Blair, who faces charges of murder, manslaughter and other offenses and will also return to court at a later date.

A.M. NEWS THURSDAY 4-17-25

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick announced that 10 Correction officers have been indicted by a Grand Jury in connection with the death of Mid State Correctional Facility Inmate Messiah Nantwi on March 1st. 15 staff members from both Mid-State and Marcy Correctional Facilities have been placed on leave or suspended since Nantwi's death, the grand jury indictment accuses Jonah Levi and Caleb Blair of murder, while others were charged with Manslaughter, gang assault or conspiracy.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 4-16-25

Grand Jury indictments were handed down in the case of the death of Messiah Nantwi, a prisoner at the Mid-State Correctional Facility. Nantwi died at a hospital on March 1 after being transported from the prison, during the 22-day strike by Correction Officers. 15 people were arrested, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick has been investigating his death.

An Oneida County Grand Jury met Wednesday regarding the death of Midstate Correctional inmate Messiah Nantwi, who died March 1st. 15 staff members at both Midstate and Marcy Correctional are on leave or suspended in connection with the case. The Grand Jury will determine if there is evidence to indict them.

The State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has placed 15 individuals on leave in connection with the death of 22 year old Messiah Nantwi, who was incarcerated at Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy. this is the 2nd investigation of an inmates death at Marcy , the other being of Robert Brooks in December, the investigation into this Nantwi death is ongoing.

State Police responded Saturday to the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to the report of a deceased inmate at the facility in Marcy. 22 year old Messiah Nantwi was pronounced deceased at Wynn Hospital in Utica, the circumstances surrounding his death are part of an ongoing investigation by State Police & the Department of Corrections Special Investigations.