Contractor pleads guilty, agrees to pay back victims
NORWICH – A Coventry man has pleaded guilty to a number of crimes and agreed to pay back stolen money in a plea arrangement with prosecutors.
Joseph N. Wright, 36, of Greene, pleaded guilty Friday to felony grand larceny and bail jumping, along with another crime he committed 15 years earlier.
Wright pleaded guilty to a 1995 felony forgery charge, admitting he signed an ex-girlfriend’s name to a personal check so he could withdraw $175 to buy a puppy.
For 14 years, an active arrest warrant lingered over Wright until he was arrested in February of 2009 on unrelated charges.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested Wright in February on charges of felony larceny after an investigation claimed he took money from area residents in his work as a contractor, failing to deposit the money in a trust account or finish the projects.
Defense Attorney Paul Tomkins of Binghamton said Wright had been living in Chenango County for over 11 years and had been previously stopped by local law enforcement and underwent background checks in that time without ever being detained over the forgery charge.
Tomkins noted that for much of that time, Wright served on the Coventry Volunteer Fire Department, adding he could have been easily located by police.
Wright pleaded guilty to third degree grand larceny, saying he entered into a $23,000 home improvement job between April 16 and May 2008. Write said he kept the final $3,000 without finishing the work.
District Attorney Joseph McBride said Wright was ordered to halt his contracting work until the criminal cases could be heard in court.
Following his February 2009 arrest, Wright posted $2,000 cash bail and fled police.
Wright told acting Chenango County Supreme Court Justice Donald Cerio that he had continued to finish up some left over work despite the court’s orders and was aware he would be placed back in jail if he returned for his appearance.
Wright pleaded guilty to second degree bail jumping after he failed to return to court on Aug. 12, 2009.
Cerio also approved a psychological evaluation for Wright after Tomkins said his client suffered from a gambling problem.
Though pleading guilty to only three charges, Wright agreed to pay restitution in a number of other cases as part of his agreement.
Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Richard Cobb said Wright’s business, Wright Construction, took over $32,944 from the five different victims.
Following the plea, Wright said he had hoped for leniency in the case, saying he was a participating member of the community, with seven years of service with the Coventry Volunteer Fire Department. Wright had appeared in court wearing his fire company’s jacket in earlier proceedings.
Wright will appear back in court Nov. 12 and faces between four and 12 years in state prison.
Joseph N. Wright, 36, of Greene, pleaded guilty Friday to felony grand larceny and bail jumping, along with another crime he committed 15 years earlier.
Wright pleaded guilty to a 1995 felony forgery charge, admitting he signed an ex-girlfriend’s name to a personal check so he could withdraw $175 to buy a puppy.
For 14 years, an active arrest warrant lingered over Wright until he was arrested in February of 2009 on unrelated charges.
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested Wright in February on charges of felony larceny after an investigation claimed he took money from area residents in his work as a contractor, failing to deposit the money in a trust account or finish the projects.
Defense Attorney Paul Tomkins of Binghamton said Wright had been living in Chenango County for over 11 years and had been previously stopped by local law enforcement and underwent background checks in that time without ever being detained over the forgery charge.
Tomkins noted that for much of that time, Wright served on the Coventry Volunteer Fire Department, adding he could have been easily located by police.
Wright pleaded guilty to third degree grand larceny, saying he entered into a $23,000 home improvement job between April 16 and May 2008. Write said he kept the final $3,000 without finishing the work.
District Attorney Joseph McBride said Wright was ordered to halt his contracting work until the criminal cases could be heard in court.
Following his February 2009 arrest, Wright posted $2,000 cash bail and fled police.
Wright told acting Chenango County Supreme Court Justice Donald Cerio that he had continued to finish up some left over work despite the court’s orders and was aware he would be placed back in jail if he returned for his appearance.
Wright pleaded guilty to second degree bail jumping after he failed to return to court on Aug. 12, 2009.
Cerio also approved a psychological evaluation for Wright after Tomkins said his client suffered from a gambling problem.
Though pleading guilty to only three charges, Wright agreed to pay restitution in a number of other cases as part of his agreement.
Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Richard Cobb said Wright’s business, Wright Construction, took over $32,944 from the five different victims.
Following the plea, Wright said he had hoped for leniency in the case, saying he was a participating member of the community, with seven years of service with the Coventry Volunteer Fire Department. Wright had appeared in court wearing his fire company’s jacket in earlier proceedings.
Wright will appear back in court Nov. 12 and faces between four and 12 years in state prison.
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