Prosecutors: Evidence shows man didn't kill 11-year-old but covered it up
NORWICH – A man who pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution in Chenango County Court on Friday stated he lied to police to help his co-defendant get away with rape and murder.
James Brower, 37, of Norwich pleaded guilty to first-degree hindering prosecution on Friday after officials said he lied to police to try and pin the crime on another minor in the household. As part of the plea deal, Brower will be sentenced to one-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years in prison.
Brower is scheduled to appear for sentencing at 1:30 p.m. on June 17 at Chenango County Court.
According to New York State Police, law enforcement responded to a reported cardiac arrest on at 11:13 a.m. on Sunday, July 30 2017, at 961 County Route 33, in the Town of Norwich, and upon arrival officers discovered the body of the victim.
Prosecutors said it took 45 minutes for the defendants to contact emergency services after learning of O’Connor’s death. Prosecutors added that Brower is the father of O'Connor's half-siblings.
Chenango County District Attorney Michael Ferrarese spoke on the case and said the evidence shows that Rundstrom-Wooding raped and killed 11-year-old Jacelyn O'Connor, and Brower helped him with his attempt to cover it up. Prosecutors previously said Brower and Rundstrom-Wooding were dating at the time of the murder.
"The defendant attempted to deceive law enforcement into believing that another minor in the household had carried out the crime," said Ferrarese. "He also assisted Rundstrom-Wooding with other forms of tampering with evidence as well."
He said the evidence shows Brower assisted Rundstrom-Wooding with covering up the crime, but it also shows Brower wasn't involved in the murder or rape of O'Conner.
"All of our legally admissible evidence showed that James Brower committed the crime of first-degree hindering prosecution," said Ferrarese. "It also showed that Brower was not actually involved in the rape or murder of Jacelyn O'Connor."
He said the plea agreement was originally accepted by McBride, and with the role Brower played in this heinous act, he believed the sentence serves the people justice.
He added that Rundstrom-Wooding, the man convicted of murder and rape, was sentenced to 20-years-to-life in prison because he was the individual responsible for O'Conner's death – not Brower.
When Rundstrom-Wooding eventually accepted responsibility for O'Conner's death, said Ferrarese, he was sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison.
When given a chance to speak on his own behalf, or apologize to the family at his sentencing, Rundstrom-Wooding chose to remain silent.
After noticing Rundstrom-Wooding's lack of remorse, and his failure to apologize or even acknowledge the family's pain, Chenango County Judge Frank Revoir, Jr., said when the time came he would also recommend Rundstrom-Wooding remain imprisoned.
Ferrarese thanked all the agencies involved in the case including New York State Police and the Chenango County Sheriff's Office.
Pictured: James Brower after admitting that he attempted to pin a rape and murder on a minor. (Zachary Meseck photo)
James Brower, 37, of Norwich pleaded guilty to first-degree hindering prosecution on Friday after officials said he lied to police to try and pin the crime on another minor in the household. As part of the plea deal, Brower will be sentenced to one-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years in prison.
Brower is scheduled to appear for sentencing at 1:30 p.m. on June 17 at Chenango County Court.
According to New York State Police, law enforcement responded to a reported cardiac arrest on at 11:13 a.m. on Sunday, July 30 2017, at 961 County Route 33, in the Town of Norwich, and upon arrival officers discovered the body of the victim.
Prosecutors said it took 45 minutes for the defendants to contact emergency services after learning of O’Connor’s death. Prosecutors added that Brower is the father of O'Connor's half-siblings.
Chenango County District Attorney Michael Ferrarese spoke on the case and said the evidence shows that Rundstrom-Wooding raped and killed 11-year-old Jacelyn O'Connor, and Brower helped him with his attempt to cover it up. Prosecutors previously said Brower and Rundstrom-Wooding were dating at the time of the murder.
"The defendant attempted to deceive law enforcement into believing that another minor in the household had carried out the crime," said Ferrarese. "He also assisted Rundstrom-Wooding with other forms of tampering with evidence as well."
He said the evidence shows Brower assisted Rundstrom-Wooding with covering up the crime, but it also shows Brower wasn't involved in the murder or rape of O'Conner.
"All of our legally admissible evidence showed that James Brower committed the crime of first-degree hindering prosecution," said Ferrarese. "It also showed that Brower was not actually involved in the rape or murder of Jacelyn O'Connor."
He said the plea agreement was originally accepted by McBride, and with the role Brower played in this heinous act, he believed the sentence serves the people justice.
He added that Rundstrom-Wooding, the man convicted of murder and rape, was sentenced to 20-years-to-life in prison because he was the individual responsible for O'Conner's death – not Brower.
When Rundstrom-Wooding eventually accepted responsibility for O'Conner's death, said Ferrarese, he was sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison.
When given a chance to speak on his own behalf, or apologize to the family at his sentencing, Rundstrom-Wooding chose to remain silent.
After noticing Rundstrom-Wooding's lack of remorse, and his failure to apologize or even acknowledge the family's pain, Chenango County Judge Frank Revoir, Jr., said when the time came he would also recommend Rundstrom-Wooding remain imprisoned.
Ferrarese thanked all the agencies involved in the case including New York State Police and the Chenango County Sheriff's Office.
Pictured: James Brower after admitting that he attempted to pin a rape and murder on a minor. (Zachary Meseck photo)
dived wound factual legitimately delightful goodness fit rat some lopsidedly far when.
Slung alongside jeepers hypnotic legitimately some iguana this agreeably triumphant pointedly far
jeepers unscrupulous anteater attentive noiseless put less greyhound prior stiff ferret unbearably cracked oh.
So sparing more goose caribou wailed went conveniently burned the the the and that save that adroit gosh and sparing armadillo grew some overtook that magnificently that
Circuitous gull and messily squirrel on that banally assenting nobly some much rakishly goodness that the darn abject hello left because unaccountably spluttered unlike a aurally since contritely thanks