Author: Timothy Thompson

On November 21, 2018, at about 10:14am, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office Investigators arrested William L. Hildreth, age 59, and Tammy Havemann, age 48, both of 4365 West Seneca Road, Trumansburg, New York, following a welfare fraud investigation. Both Hildreth and Havemann were charged with Welfare Fraud in the Fifth Degree, Offering a False Instrument for Filing, and Misuse of Food Stamps. It is alleged that the two failed to disclose household income while receiving benefits from Seneca County. Hildreth and Havemann were issued appearance tickets and are to appear in the Waterloo Village Court on December 5, 2018 at 5:00pm.

18SH12303/18SH12328

On November 12, 2018, at about 10:00am, the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office reports that members of the Narcotics Unit, Criminal Investigation Division, and Road Patrol Division executed a search warrant at 1925 Seneca Road in the Town of Lodi related to the production of methamphetamine. As a result of the search warrant execution, Investigators arrested Kyle G. Clawson, age 41, and Meredith J. Bell, age 42, both residing at the address.

Clawson was charged with the following:

(6cts) Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the third degree- Class D Felonies

Unlawful Manufacture of Methamphetamine in the third degree- Class D Felony

Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the fourth degree- Class E Felony

Criminal Possession of Precursors of Methamphetamine- Class E Felony

Unlawful Disposal of Methamphetamine Laboratory Material- Class E Felony

(2cts) Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the second degree – Class A Misdemeanors

Bell had an active Bench Warrant out of the City of Ithaca Court for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree. She was turned over to members of the Ithaca Police Department.

It is alleged that Clawson had been manufacturing methamphetamine while at his residence. Investigators discovered a substantial amount of chemicals and laboratory equipment used in the process of manufacturing methamphetamine. It is also alleged that Clawson possessed multiple long guns and a handgun that were illegally possessed due to Clawson being a convicted felon. It is further alleged that one of the long guns was stolen from Chemung County in 2014. Seneca County Code Enforcement arrived on scene and deemed the property uninhabitable. Further charges are pending after a laboratory analysis of items seized on scene.

Clawson was arraigned in the Seneca County Centralized Arraignment Court and remanded to the Seneca County Correctional Facility on $20,000 cash bail/$40,000 secured bond. Clawson is to reappear in the Lodi Town Court on November 14, 2018 at 12pm.

Members of the Sheriff’s Office were assisted by the Lodi Fire Department, Seneca County Code Enforcement, and New York State Police.

18SH12020

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office reports on November 5, 2018 at approximately 5:00pm, Investigators arrested an inmate of the Correctional Facility, 26 year old, Elliot Flores. Flores was charged with Aggravated Harassment of an Employee by an Inmate, a Class E Felony. It is alleged that Flores intentionally spit blood directly in the face of a male Corrections Officer. Flores was arraigned at the Centralized Arraignment where he was turned back over to the Correctional Facility.

18SH11796

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office reports, on October 31st 2018 at 3:30PM, Investigators arrested Mary C. Atkachonis, age 35, of Waterloo, NY. Atkachonis was charged with a Violation of Parole. She is currently being held at the Seneca County Correctional facility awaiting a parole hearing.

18SH11617

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office reports, on October 23, 2018 at approximately 4:15PM, members of the Narcotics Unit arrested David J. Zona, age 38, of Waterloo, NY. It is alleged that Zona has been actively selling heroin and fentanyl in the local community. At the time of arrest, Zona was found to be in possession of approximately 40 baggies of fentanyl. Zona was charged with the following:

Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree- Class B Felony

Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the second degree- Class A Misdemeanor

Zona was held at the Law Enforcement Center where he was arraigned at CAP Court. He was committed to the custody of the Sheriff in lieu of $1,000 cash or $2,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear at the Village of Waterloo Court on October 26, 2018 at 12:00PM.

18SH11351

On October 24, 2018, at about 4:27am, Seneca County Sheriff’s Investigators arrested Derais D. Davis, age 44, of 80 West Bayard Street, Seneca Falls, New York, on a charge of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E Felony. The charge stems from an investigation that originated at a Town of Tyre business where Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of a stabbing. Upon their arrival, a female victim was found with knife wounds to the arm and the male suspect, Davis, had fled the scene. The victim was transported by North Seneca Ambulance to Geneva General Hospital where she was treated and released. Sheriff’s Investigators met with the victim, but she declined to pursue any criminal action at this time. The vehicle involved in the incident was located a short time later and it was learned that Davis allegedly attempted to clean the blood from the interior and exterior of the vehicle in an attempt to conceal it from law enforcement. It is further alleged that Davis discarded bloody items in a dumpster in the Village of Waterloo. Davis is currently being held at the Seneca County Correctional Facility awaiting arraignment in the Centralized Arraignment Court. The case remains under investigation.

The Seneca Falls Police Department and Waterloo Police Department also assisted in the investigation.

18SH11365

On October 23, 2018, at about 9:56am, Seneca County Sheriff’s Deputies and Investigators responded to 534 Pucker Road in the Town of Tyre for the report of a farming accident. Upon the arrival of Sheriff’s Deputies, the male victim’s arm was found to be stuck in a chain-operated shaft in a conveyor-style wood planing machine. The Magee Fire Department, Junius Fire Department, and North Seneca Ambulance also responded to the scene. The victim was freed from the machine by Firefighters and immediately flown to Upstate Medical Center by Lifenet Air Ambulance. The male victim was identified as Levi E. Schwartz, age 11, of the same address, who was working with the machine with his father prior to the accident. It appears that a piece of Schwartz’s clothing became stuck and pulled him into the shaft and trapped him. Schwartz suffered serious injuries to his arm and is currently undergoing medical treatment. The accident remains under investigation.

18SH11343

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office reports that Sheriff’s Investigators arrested a thirteen year old male for Assault in the Third Degree following an investigation into a fight that took place in the Town of Romulus on October 1, 2018. It is alleged that the thirteen year old engaged in a physical altercation with another male, causing physical injury to the male victim. The thirteen year old male is scheduled to appear at the Probation Department on a later date to answer the charge. The suspect’s name is being withheld due to his age.

18SH10562

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office reports that on October 8th, 2018, at approximately 1:20 AM, Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a motor vehicle accident that occurred on State Route 89 in the Town of Romulus. Upon the arrival of Sheriff’s Deputies, a truck had crashed into the ditch. A total of five occupants were inside the truck at the time of accident. Luckily, all five occupants were uninjured. While investigating the accident, the five subjects provided Sheriff’s Deputies with fraudulent identification and immigration documents. After further investigation, it was determined that the five individuals were currently in the United States illegally. The United States Border Patrol was then notified and the five subjects were turned over to them for further action.

18SH10781

On October 3, 2018 at about 12:42pm, the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit arrested Shannon M. Markel, age 29, of 93 Mynderse Street, Seneca Falls, New York, on multiple charges following a lengthy investigation into the sale and possession of Fentanyl in the local community. Initially, Markel was taken into custody on charges of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, both Class B Felonies, as it was alleged that Markel sold a quantity of Fentanyl to another person. Markel was then transported to the Seneca County Correctional Facility where it was discovered that she was concealing baggies of Fentanyl. Markel attempted to conceal one baggie of Fentanyl in the rear seat of a Sheriff’s patrol vehicle and attempted to swallow another baggie. Markel also attempted to snort the contents of another baggie. As a result of Markel’s actions, she was further charged with:

Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E Felony (three counts)
Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, a Class E Felony (two counts)
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor.

Markel was held at the Seneca County Correctional Facility on pre-arraignment detention and will be arraigned in the Seneca County Centralized Arraignment Court.

The Narcotics Unit was assisted by members of the Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Division and Corrections Division, New York State Police, Seneca Falls Police Department, and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.