NORWICH – A Utica man was transported from State Prison to be sentenced on drug charges following his arrest in Norwich in 2014.
Chenango County Court convened before Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr. on Monday to hear the matter of Tevin Yakeen Brown, 21.
Brown was transported from New York State Prison where he is already serving a sentence of five years with five years post release supervision, out of the Oneida County Court for the charge of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
Brown was present with his attorney John Cameron for this matter. District Attorney Joseph A. McBride was present on behalf of the people of Chenango County.
Brown was originally arrested in October of 2014, while in the City of Norwich by members of the Norwich Police Department.
According to authorities at the time of the arrest, Brown was in possession of crack-cocaine and did intend to sell the narcotic drug.
Brown recently appeared in Chenango County Court back in November of 2015 due to a return on warrant.
The return on warrant charged Brown with the counts of a class B felony of criminal possession in the third degree; a class C felony of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree; and the class A misdemeanor of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.
According to the District Attorney's Office, these criminal possession charges involved the drug cocaine.
Brown's attorney chose to waive the readings of the indictment at that time and entered not guilty pleas to all charges on behalf of his client.
Brown was back in Chenango County, this time to possibly change his plea to not guilty and enter a not guilty plea to the top charge.
In return for entering a guilty plea, Brown was to be sentenced to a determinate sentence of three years in New York State Prison, followed by one and half years post release supervision. This sentence would run concurrent with the State Prison Sentence Brown is already serving out of Oneida County.
Brown would also be required to forfeit the $1,460, found in his possession at the time of the arrest back in 2014.
Brown was sworn into the court before Judge Revoir read the top charge.
“The first count charges you, Tevin Y. Brown, with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony,” said Revoir. “It alleges that on Oct. 14, at approximately 4:09 p.m. on State Street in the City of Norwich that you did possess two plastic wraps of cocaine with intent to sell.”
Brown did enter a guilty plea at this time in court.
Revoir entered into further colloquy with Brown to ensure that he was on State Street and did intent to sell the narcotic drugs as the indictment alleged.
McBride indicated that during the original arrest an identification card was found on Brown and made a note for the record that if Brown happened to not be a legal United States citizen, then the Chenango County Court was not obligated to uphold the sentence if extradition from the country was necessary, something Judge Revoir reinforced for the record.
Brown indicated he was a citizen, and the ID found on him was not his, but belonged to another individual.
“You are a young man, already in state prison. You need to grow up, and when you get out you need to get a job. Good luck sir,” said McBride.
Brown was sentenced to determinate sentence of three years in state prison with one and half years post release at this time. The sentence will run concurrent with the previous sentence, as noted.
All fines, fees, and surcharges were waived at this time due to indigency. A written waiver of appeal was signed at the closing of the case.
It should be noted that Brown is not sentenced as a predicate felon, due to this sentence out of Chenango County Court predates the charge and subsequent sentence out of Oneida County.