NORWICH – A pre-trial hearing in the case of a Syracuse man indicted on charges of narcotics possession was held Wednesday in Chenango County Court, with additional details of the alleged drug dealer’s arrest coming to light.
Marvelous C. Williams, 25, Syracuse, was indicted by a Chenango County grand jury in February, charged with three counts of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class B felony; one count of tampering with physical evidence, a class E felony; and one count of seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor.
According to his indictment, it’s alleged that Williams – on or about Jan. 16, 2012, in the Town of Norwich – did “knowingly and unlawfully possess seven individually wrapped plastic baggies of the narcotic cocaine with an approximate weight of 15.05 grams” and a total of “30 glassine envelopes containing the narcotic heroin.”
It’s also alleged that Williams attempted to hide the drugs, intentionally placing them in the map pocket located in the back of an unmarked sheriff’s vehicle passenger seat.
Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dustin Smietana and Lt. Richard Cobb both testified during yesterday’s hearing, detailing the events that led to Williams’ arrest on Jan. 16.
Under oath, Smietana reported he’d been working road patrol that day, parked in a State Highway 12 parking area in North Norwich, when he observed a Norwich man he had reason to believe was driving with a suspended license. Smietana said he proceeded to initiate a traffic stop, identifying the Norwich man – who was indeed driving with a suspended license – and was provided with identification for the vehicle’s two passengers, one of whom Smietana identified as Williams. Lt. Cobb and Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Detective John Fern then arrived on the scene, added Smietana, and proceeded to question Williams and the other passenger. The driver of the vehicle, meanwhile, had been placed in the rear of Smietana’s patrol car.
A pat-down of Williams, reported the deputy, turned up a wallet containing what Smietana called “a large sum of money,” and a cell phone – both of which were returned to Williams – but no drugs. Inconsistencies and a search of the vehicle, however, led Lt. Cobb and Det. Fern to believe further questioning of Williams was necessary, pending the acquisition of a search warrant.
According to Cobb, Williams was placed in the back of his unmarked, 2008 Chevy Impala, and was subsequently transported to the Chenango County Correctional Facility. Shortly after, Cobb made the right hand turn on to County Road 46, en route to the correctional facility, when the right side, rear passenger door opened. Williams, according to Cobb, had taken off his seatbelt and opened the door. Quickly coming to a stop, Cobb said he searched between 200 and 300 yards of the roadway to see if Williams had attempted to throw any type of contraband out of the vehicle. Finding nothing, Cobb said he proceeded to the jail. Williams, he added, had been fidgeting in the back seat of the vehicle throughout the trip; had refused to exit the vehicle upon arrival at the correctional facility; and had to be forcibly removed. Handcuffed, Cobb said Williams attempted to push him off the sidewalk leading to the jail entrance and was generally uncooperative. A search of Cobb’s vehicle following Williams’ placement in a holding cell turned up the narcotics, which the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office believes were being transported either on his person or internally.
Williams will re-appear in court at a later date.