NORWICH – A man facing some of New York’s highest drug charges appeared in court in early December with the support of family and friends, asking the judge for reasonable bail.
Christopher S. Purdy, 40, of 28 Fair St. Apt. 201, Norwich, was arrested Nov. 20 after the Norwich City Police Department allegedly discovered more than $25,000 worth of cocaine hidden in the framework of the car he was driving.
On Dec. 2, Purdy was indicted for first degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A-1 felony by a Chenango County grand jury. He was also indicted for second degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A-II felony.
Class A felonies are the highest felony level crimes in the state and carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Since his arrest, Purdy has remained incarcerated at the Chenango County Correctional Facility because the Norwich City Court, which had prior jurisdiction, lacked the legal power to grant him bail over the high level charges. Norwich City Court Judge James Downey said that according to state law, local courts are prohibited from setting bail in Class A felony cases.
Appearing in Chenango County Court for the first time on Dec. 11 before County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan, Purdy’s lawyer, family and friends pleaded for a fair bail to be set.
“This defendant made a business out of selling cocaine in our community. Looking at 10 to 20 years in prison, he has every reason to want to flee,” said District Attorney Joseph McBride.
McBride asked the court to set bail at $100,000 and Sullivan approved the request, remanding Purdy back to the county jail.
Purdy’s private attorney, Thomas J. Valerino of Syracuse, told the court his client had no rap sheet, no bench warrant history, was cooperative with police during the investigation and had a clean criminal record, apart from a previous driving while intoxicated charge.
Valerino said police never even found it necessary to handcuff Purdy while they conducted their search of his vehicle.
At a previous felony hearing in Norwich City Court, Norwich Police Officer Brandon Clarke testified that Purdy seemed “calm” during the traffic stop and cooperated with police orders.
Clarke and the other officers pulled Purdy over at 10:13 p.m. on Nov. 19, along Cortland Street and he testified that his K-9 partner, Weeks, signaled that drugs were detected in the suspect vehicle. Police believe Purdy was traveling from the New York City area to a location in the city.
Police then drove the car, which allegedly belongs to Purdy’s girlfriend, back to the station for a more thorough search. Clarke said police, using Weeks to guide them, eventually discovered about 9.13 ounces of cocaine wrapped in plastic tucked into the paneling of the Hyundai Tiburon, just in front of the driver’s side rear wheel.
“If he is released or gets out on bail, he’s guaranteed a job offer by at least two of the people in the courtroom today,” Valerino told the judge.
Sullivan asked Purdy’s attorney to introduce the group of people sitting behind the defendant to the court. Valerino introduced Purdy’s girlfriend, mother, sister, aunt, uncle, a few friends and even his neighbor. Valerino said they were all there to show support for his release.
“And where was he employed prior to his arrest?” asked Sullivan. “He was not employed at the time of his arrest,” answered Valerino.
Valerino continued to explain that Purdy has two children living with their mother in Albany, ages 11 and 15, who are honor and high honor roll students. Valerino said Purdy visits them every weekend. He also offered to read “numerous letters from family and friends” written to the court on Purdy’s behalf. Sullivan declined and said he would later review the letters.
The Sheriff’s Office reported Wednesday that Purdy remained at the facility and had not yet posted bail.