NORWICH – Two suspected drug dealers, an accused rapist and a pair of alleged home invaders were among those indicted by a Chenango County grand jury last week.
At the proceedings, the Chenango County 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.
• Twenty year-old Curissa M. Jenkins of 31 Hickok Ave., Norwich, was indicted on three drug- related felonies and a misdemeanor.
Court documents said Jenkins was indicted with third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (a Class B felony) for allegedly having 2.88 grams of cocaine. She was indicted with third degree criminal possession of marijuana (a Class E felony) for allegedly having 11 ounces of marijuana.
Jenkins’ third count on the indictment was for third degree criminal mischief over allegations that she kicked and damaged a Norwich Police vehicle door and window following her appearance in court March 27, causing $995.71 in damages. The arraignment took place the day of Jenkins’ arrest and she was visually upset at the proceeding, at one point shouting at police.
The final count filed by the grand jury charged Jenkins with second degree criminal use of drug paraphernalia, claiming that two digital scales and a number of Ziplock plastic bags found at her residence were used in the “dispensing of narcotic drugs,” it stated.
Jenkins’ alleged co-conspirator and boyfriend, 28-year-old Michael Victor of West Edmeston, was also indicted on one B class felony by the jury – third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, for allegedly possessing 2.88 grams of cocaine.
Jenkins and Victor were the target of a multi-agency drug bust March 27. Investigators contend that the couple kept two separate apartments in the City of Norwich – one where they lived and another allegedly used as a front to store and sell narcotics.
Police raided both locations in a daybreak tactical entry, breaking down doors and brandishing weapons.
The couple were found sleeping at a 31 Hickok Ave. apartment and police discovered illegal substances and paraphernalia at a 72 Plymouth St. apartment; both leases were in Jenkins’ name.
Following the raid, on April 3, the Norwich Police Department discovered a 2004 Mercedes Benz coupe, guns and over $25,000 worth of cocaine in a storage unit located in the Town of Norwich, also rented in Jenkins’ name.
Prosecutors have also raised issued with Victor’s legal residency and claimed he may be an illegal alien. Federal immigrations and customs enforcement officials in Buffalo have requested that the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office hold him pending their investigation.
Victor is currently in the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $200,000 cash bail and Jenkins in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.
• Myron K. Frasier, 42, of Beebe Avenue, Norwich, was indicted on four counts of third degree rape, Class E felonies. The charges accuse Frasier of committing four different statutory rapes against the same 15-year-old victim.
The charges stated that Frasier first initiated a sexual relationship with the alleged victim in December of 2008 and continued to periodically engage the youth until March 2009.
Originally Frasier was arrested for a first degree rape, a Class B felony, because the victim said she been threatened. She told the court March 19, at a felony hearing, that Frasier threatened to shoot her if she told anyone about the exchanges.
Frasier was also indicted on one other E Class felony and a misdemeanor, third degree criminal sexual act and endangering the welfare of a child, in relation to the incidents.
He is currently remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 bail.
• Ryan A. Price, 18, of Bainbridge, was indicted on three counts of third degree burglary, Class D felonies, three counts of fourth degree grand larceny, Class E felonies, and two counts of misdemeanor petit larceny.
Price’s alleged co-conspirator Kenneth E. Oefelein, 19, was also indicted on three counts of third degree burglary, one count of fourth degree grand larceny and two petit larcenies.
According to the court document, the jury accuses Price and Oefelein of breaking in three different homes in the Town and Village of Afton. In additional to the home invasions, the charges accuse the two men of stealing thousands of dollars worth of property from outside private residences, inside garages and from parked cars on March 10.
Price was also charged earlier in the year with two other felonies, two counts of fourth degree grand larceny, for allegedly stealing two firearms.
The two men allegedly stole several items including an ATV and some firearms. Other stolen items listed in the indictment included car keys, baseball bats, mechanical equipment, loose change, Playboy magazines and beer.
The New York State Troopers reported that they had recovered some of the stolen items near Price’s residence.
Price and Oefelein are being held at the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.
• Nathaniel J. Jenkins was also indicted on a fourth degree criminal possession of controlled substance charge for allegedly having a quantity of cocaine on his person. He was arrested Jan. 31, in the City of Norwich.