Contractor faces old warrant, new felonies
NORWICH – For the past 14 years an arrest warrant has lingered over the head of a Coventry man wanted for forgery. After living in Chenango County for the past 11 years, he’s facing several new charges involving the alleged theft of over $30,000.
Joseph N. Wright, 35, of Greene, was indicted for felony forgery by a Chenango County grand jury in 1995 for allegedly signing the name of the victim to withdraw $175 dollars from her bank account.
Police arrested Wright in February on new charges of felony larceny after an investigation showed that his contracting company took money from Norwich and Greene residents, but allegedly failed to deposit the money in a trust account.
New York State Law requires that contractors hold paid amounts in an escrow account while work is in progress.
Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Richard Cobb said Wright’s business, Wright Construction, took over $32,944 from the five different victims.
“That’s what we’ve got totaled up so far,” said the detective, explaining that additional amounts may be pending.
Currently Wright is charged with seven felonies: two counts of third degree grand larceny and five counts of fourth degree grand larceny and petit larceny, a misdemeanor, said Cobb.
District Attorney Joseph A. McBride said in court Feb. 2 that “Wright absconded 14 years ago to Florida,” where he “spent time in a Florida prison.”
Wright’s defense attorney Paul Tomkins said Wright had returned to Chenango County over 11 years ago and had been stopped by law enforcement and even underwent background checks in that time without ever being detained, pointing out that his client served on the Coventry Volunteer Fire Department.
Wright appeared in court wearing his fire company’s jacket.
The Feb. 2 preceding was over the 14 year-old warrant and the new charges facing Wright were not discussed in court.
“There are new charges against the defendant that have not yet appeared before the court that are similar to the type of charges he faced 14 years ago,” said McBride, who requested Wright be placed on bail and ordered to halt his contracting work until the case could be heard.
The Broome County Sheriff’s Office also has a separate open case against Wright and charged him with third degree grand larceny March 2.
Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dowd remanded Wright to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $1,000 bail and he was taken away by court security. Before being taken into custody, Wright offered to pay the bail amount in the courtroom but the judge said it had to be handled by the Sheriff’s Office. Dowd also ordered Wright to avoid any money transactions associated with his contracting services until further notice.
Joseph N. Wright, 35, of Greene, was indicted for felony forgery by a Chenango County grand jury in 1995 for allegedly signing the name of the victim to withdraw $175 dollars from her bank account.
Police arrested Wright in February on new charges of felony larceny after an investigation showed that his contracting company took money from Norwich and Greene residents, but allegedly failed to deposit the money in a trust account.
New York State Law requires that contractors hold paid amounts in an escrow account while work is in progress.
Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Richard Cobb said Wright’s business, Wright Construction, took over $32,944 from the five different victims.
“That’s what we’ve got totaled up so far,” said the detective, explaining that additional amounts may be pending.
Currently Wright is charged with seven felonies: two counts of third degree grand larceny and five counts of fourth degree grand larceny and petit larceny, a misdemeanor, said Cobb.
District Attorney Joseph A. McBride said in court Feb. 2 that “Wright absconded 14 years ago to Florida,” where he “spent time in a Florida prison.”
Wright’s defense attorney Paul Tomkins said Wright had returned to Chenango County over 11 years ago and had been stopped by law enforcement and even underwent background checks in that time without ever being detained, pointing out that his client served on the Coventry Volunteer Fire Department.
Wright appeared in court wearing his fire company’s jacket.
The Feb. 2 preceding was over the 14 year-old warrant and the new charges facing Wright were not discussed in court.
“There are new charges against the defendant that have not yet appeared before the court that are similar to the type of charges he faced 14 years ago,” said McBride, who requested Wright be placed on bail and ordered to halt his contracting work until the case could be heard.
The Broome County Sheriff’s Office also has a separate open case against Wright and charged him with third degree grand larceny March 2.
Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dowd remanded Wright to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $1,000 bail and he was taken away by court security. Before being taken into custody, Wright offered to pay the bail amount in the courtroom but the judge said it had to be handled by the Sheriff’s Office. Dowd also ordered Wright to avoid any money transactions associated with his contracting services until further notice.
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