NORWICH – The Chenango County grand jury met Wednesday and handed up a number of criminal indictments. At the proceeding, the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office presents evidence against those they wish to prosecute. It is up to the jury to decide if there is enough reasonable cause to charge a person with a felony offense.
Those indicted by the grand jury are arraigned before the county or Supreme Court judge at a later date.
The grand jury indicted six individuals:
• Patrick W. Ford II, 41, Norwich, was indicted on two counts of first degree attempted murder of a police officer, a class A-1 violent felony; second degree attempted murder, a class B violent felony; three counts of first degree criminal use of a firearm, a class B felony; second degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class C felony; three counts of menacing a police officer, a class D felony; and six counts of first degree reckless endangerment, also a class D felony.
It’s alleged that Ford, on Aug. 30 in the Town of Pitcher, repeatedly fired a 40. caliber Glock handgun at a Chenango County Sheriff’s Office deputy and sergeant – as well as a New York State Police trooper and several civilians – after officers responded to a motor vehicle accident involving Ford on State Route 23 in the Town of Pitcher. According to his indictment, Ford “did attempt to cause the death of another person,” the intended victim being a police officer, and did attempt killing said officer while he was “engaged in the course of performing his official duties.”
The indictment goes on to state that Ford also acted with “indifference to human life” and “did recklessly engage in conduct which created a grave risk of death to another person.”
• Russell W. Davis, 42, Norwich, was indicted on charges of fourth degree grand larceny, a class E felony; first degree scheme to defraud, a class E felony; and second degree scheme to defraud, a class A misdemeanor.
Davis is accused of stealing property with a value exceeding $100 on Aug. 6 in the Town of Oxford. According to his indictment, Davis knowingly wrote a personal check for $700 from a checking account with insufficient funds for a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, refusing to return the vehicle to its original owner when contacted. It’s also alleged Davis wrote a second bad check to a local business, with both checks totaling $1,475.27.
• Michael B. VanDerWeert, 26, Guilford, was indicted on charges of second degree burglary, a class C felony; and petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor.
It’s alleged that VanDerWeert, in September of 2012, did knowingly enter and unlawfully remain in a personal residence on County Road 38 in the Town of Guilford with the intent to commit a crime, stealing a safe, three rolls of quarters and a pair of 1960 class rings.
• Barry L. E. Rattley, 27, Brooklyn, was indicted on charges of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class B felony; and fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony.
It’s alleged that Rattley, in August of 2012 in the City of Norwich, did knowingly and unlawfully possess – with the intent to sell – 21 glassine envelopes containing the narcotic heroin, as well as four plastic wraps containing the narcotic cocaine, with an aggregate weight of .65 grams.
• Jessica L. Seiler, 36, Norwich, was indicted on one count of aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in car, a class E felony.
Seiler is accused of operating a motor vehicle in an intoxicated condition – with two children present – on or about July 5 in the City of Norwich.
• Edward M. Arenth, 24, Oxford, was indicted on charges of first degree rape, a class B felony; and first degree sexual abuse, a class D felony.
It’s alleged that Arenth, on or about Aug. 14 in the Town of Norwich, engaged in sexual intercourse with a female by forcible compulsion, holding the victim down after being told to stop. He is also accused of forcing sexual contact on that individual.