NORWICH – The Chenango County grand jury met Wednesday and handed up several criminal indictments including a case of a McDonough man who allegedly attacked a 21-year-old female and inappropriately solicited an 11-year-old girl.
At the proceedings, the District Attorney’s Office presents evidence against those they wish to prosecute and the jury decides if there is enough reasonable cause to charge a person.
• 31-year-old Andrew Jason Waterman of McDonough was indicted for second degree kidnapping, second degree assault, both felonies, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
Waterman allegedly attacked a 21-year-old woman in the parking lot behind the VFW near South Main and Silver Street in the City of Norwich at around 9 p.m. March 27.
The indictment said Waterman left bruises and cuts on the alleged victims face, arms and legs following the attack.
The indictments states that during the alleged attack Waterman pinned the woman to the ground and placed “his hand over her mouth and forehead and telling her that if she screamed, he would kill her.”
“The victim told police she was tackled from behind and had to fight off the defendant ‘to the point of nearly passing out’”, said First Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee quoting the victim’s statement.
The woman fought with Waterman knocking his glasses off his face and fled to a nearby residence to call police.
Police Chief Joseph Angelino revealed that police had dealt with Waterman on prior occasions. Most recently, Feb. 2, the department had investigated an incident between the defendant and an 11-year-old girl in the City of Norwich.
According the to complaint made by the parents Waterman alleged approached the youth while she was playing outside and asked her is she “had a boyfriend” and if she’d like to “smoke some weed.”
The girl was able to record the suspect’s license plate number and police said it matched Waterman’s vehicle.
Waterman has now been officially indicted with endangering the welfare in regards to the incident.
Waterman has been remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.
Other people indicted by the grand jury yesterday included:
• Aaron L. Boynton, 27 of Norwich, was indicted for fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property and fourth degree grand larceny after he allegedly stole a Ford Taurus from the Wal-Mart parking lot on March 28.
• Lonnie K. Badger was indicted for first degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and aggravated driving while intoxicated.
Police allegedly pulled Badger over and found that she had been drinking and that her license had already been suspended for a prior DWI conviction. Police said her blood alcohol level was .19, double the .08 legal limit in New York.
Badger has a prior DWI conviction from May 5, 2005 in Broome County Court and another DWI conviction from Nov. 5, 2001.
• Salvatore J. Piro was indicted with felony driving while ability impaired. Piro was arrested at around 8 p.m. March 27, along East Main Street in the Town of Norwich. Piro has two prior driving while impaired charges. He was convicted of driving while intoxicated June 19, 2001 in Suffolk County and convicted of DWAI in March of 2001 in Norwich City Court.