85-year-old pleads guilty after judge denied a prior deal
NORWICH – An 85-year-old man originally charged with resisting arrest pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after a judge initially denied his plea arrangement with prosecutors because the defendant was still proclaiming innocence.
Norwich City Court Judge James Downey accepted the plea last week after denying a plea bargain April 22 that offered nearly the same deal with one exception: defendant John Currie had refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing in the case.
Under the prior deal, prosecutors were willing to allow Currie to make an Alford Plea in the case. An Alford Plea is a guilty plea in New York State in which a defendant pleads guilty to a crime without actually admitting they committed it, in effect saying they don’t believe they can prove their innocence with the evidence against them.
First Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee said prosecutors were willing to accept an Alford Plea to disorderly conduct, a violation in lieu of the original resisting arrest and harassment misdemeanor charges due to Currie’s age, active employment, service as a combat veteran in the Korean War and lack of criminal history.
Downey read a brief description of the charges in court, saying police claimed Currie ignored commands and engaged a Norwich City Police officer in a verbal dispute, refusing to return to his vehicle following a traffic stop.
Downey said the incident became physical when the officer placed his hand on Currie’s chest as he walked toward him, despite repeated orders to stop.
Assistant Police Chief Rodney Marsh said Currie was advised he was going to be placed under arrest at the scene and raised his hands to the officer in a menacing pose and refused to be handcuffed. Marsh said the officer wrestled Currie to the ground to handcuff him in a brief physical altercation, during which both men received bruises and scrapes.
Dunshee said Currie admitted to acting “inappropriately” with police. “He admitted to getting out of the car against police orders and being argumentative, “ he said.
Currie was ordered to pay a fine and was released. Following the plea, officials at the Norwich City Court reported Monday that the case had been sealed and its details were no longer available to the public.
Norwich City Court Judge James Downey accepted the plea last week after denying a plea bargain April 22 that offered nearly the same deal with one exception: defendant John Currie had refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing in the case.
Under the prior deal, prosecutors were willing to allow Currie to make an Alford Plea in the case. An Alford Plea is a guilty plea in New York State in which a defendant pleads guilty to a crime without actually admitting they committed it, in effect saying they don’t believe they can prove their innocence with the evidence against them.
First Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee said prosecutors were willing to accept an Alford Plea to disorderly conduct, a violation in lieu of the original resisting arrest and harassment misdemeanor charges due to Currie’s age, active employment, service as a combat veteran in the Korean War and lack of criminal history.
Downey read a brief description of the charges in court, saying police claimed Currie ignored commands and engaged a Norwich City Police officer in a verbal dispute, refusing to return to his vehicle following a traffic stop.
Downey said the incident became physical when the officer placed his hand on Currie’s chest as he walked toward him, despite repeated orders to stop.
Assistant Police Chief Rodney Marsh said Currie was advised he was going to be placed under arrest at the scene and raised his hands to the officer in a menacing pose and refused to be handcuffed. Marsh said the officer wrestled Currie to the ground to handcuff him in a brief physical altercation, during which both men received bruises and scrapes.
Dunshee said Currie admitted to acting “inappropriately” with police. “He admitted to getting out of the car against police orders and being argumentative, “ he said.
Currie was ordered to pay a fine and was released. Following the plea, officials at the Norwich City Court reported Monday that the case had been sealed and its details were no longer available to the public.
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