NORWICH – Two suspected drug dealers appeared in Norwich City Court Tuesday with separate attorneys and were handed over to face a grand jury later this month.
Michael Victor, 28, and Curissa Jenkins, 20, both residents of 31 Hickok Ave., were arrested Friday after police stormed two apartments in the City of Norwich, both allegedly belonging to the two defendants.
Of the two apartments raided, prosecutors said the defendants resided at one location and kept their crack cocaine, marijuana and drug business at the other, located in the rear apartment of 72 Plymouth St.
Police discovered more than 11 ounces of marijuana, an unknown amount of crack cocaine and several thousand dollars of bundled cash at the second apartment. Police also said they uncovered a small amount of crack cocaine from Victor’s pants at Hickok Ave. and a quantity of marijuana in the bedroom.
In court, Victor’s attorney, William H. Schebaum of Oneonta, claimed his client was at the location during the raid, but that neither residence was his legal address. He also said that the drugs found at both locations didn’t have anything to do with his client.
At the hearing, Police Officer Michael A. Purdy said they also found a loaded 12-gauge shotgun in the corner of the master bedroom.
“There’s no evidence, whatsoever, that he was in possession of whatever they found. The firearm or any substances just being in the room is certainly not grounds for the charges,” said Schebaum.
At last Friday’s arraignments in Norwich City Court, both Jenkins and Victor said they were represented by the same lawyer, Schebaum; however the two seemed to have split as only Victor appeared with the retained attorney at Monday’s proceedings, while Jenkins has been assigned Public Defender John D. Cameron instead.
Before court began, City Court Judge James Downey asked if the prosecution and the defense had any objection to holding a joint co-defendant felony hearing for the pair. District Attorney Joseph A. McBride objected, saying, “I’d prefer it if the defendants had their own, but in the interest of time we’ll do whatever the court deems appropriate,” he said.
Schebaum also raised concern, saying he only represented Victor. “One issue is that the defendants may have different positions, judge,” he said.
Cameron told the court that Jenkins would waive her right to the felony hearing, and after making a brief appearance in court, she was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $100,000 cash bail.
Jenkins had an additional felony charge of third degree criminal mischief filed against her yesterday over allegations that she kicked and damaged a Norwich Police vehicle door and window following her appearance in court last Friday. During that appearance, Jenkins was visually upset and shouted at police officials during her arraignment.
Officer Purdy was the only witness called to testify at Tuesday’s hearing. He told the court he arrived on the scene a few minutes after police officers forced their way into the building. He was the evidence investigator at the site and logged 50 items into evidence from the Hickok Ave. apartment.
Schebaum disputed that his client lived at the residence raided by police and asked the officer how they knew he lived at the apartment since his name was not on the lease and his non-driver’s license identification card had a West Edmeston address listed.
“I believe there was mail addressed to the defendant found at the location including some Western Union money orders,” said Purdy, who presented the defense attorney with an evidence list.
Purdy also said they found Victor’s clothes at the apartment and that covert officers and informants had observed Victor at the location for a period of time during the two-month-long undercover investigation.
“Yes, he lived there. We know he did,” said Purdy on the stand.
Following the hearing, Downey dismissed one of the two charges facing Victor – third degree criminal possession of marijuana, an E felony. However, Downey found there was cause to hold Victor over for the grand jury on the B felony, third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance charge. Victor allegedly had three small packets of cocaine in his pants pocket that was intended for sale.
McBride said the charge could still be indicted by the grand jury. “For purposes of the hearing, I limited my arguments to the most obvious charge of cocaine possession. My burden of proof was to prove a felony was committed and not validate every single charge,” he said.
Victor was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $200,000 bail.