NORWICH – The Chenango County grand jury met last week and handed up several criminal indictments.

At the proceedings, the District Attorney’s Office presents evidence against those they wish to prosecute and the jury decides if there is enough reasonable cause to charge a person.

• Anthony R. Botte Jr., 23, was indicted for first degree robbery and first degree criminal use of a firearm, both B class felonies.

Police arrested Botte Feb. 28, claiming he was involved in an armed robbery at the Bainbridge Great American along North Main Street that took place Nov. 28.

Police said Botte and a female, dressed in black with bandanas over their faces, robbed two clerks with a revolver and made off with more than $2,000 in cash.

A warrant for the arrest of Botte’s alleged coconspirator, 27-year-old Jamie L. Ballard, was issued shortly after he was apprehended by police, but she hasn’t yet been apprehended.

Police said a $500 reward was being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Anyone with information about the incident should contact the sheriff’s office at 337-1863.

Botte is currently in Chenango County Jail on $50,000 cash bail.

• Richard D. Tyler III, 27, Shawndell M. Johnson, 20, and Semajdanyell S. Baker, 33, all of Syracuse, were indicted on charges of third and fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, B and D class felonies, respectively.

The indictment claims the three conspired to sell cocaine.

The defendants were originally arrested along with three other coconspirators involved in trafficking crack cocaine between Norwich and Syracuse, according Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr.

Detective Kevin Powell testified at a Feb. 15 hearing police were investigating drug activity for the past three months and that they were specifically targeting Tyler, who was the only defendant mentioned by name in a search warrant.

Officers also testified that they did not previously know any of the defendants prior to their arrest, except for Tyler.

Lt. Richard Cobb testified police pulled over a car in which Tyler was a passenger at around 9 p.m. in the Town of Norwich’s South Plaza. Cobb said since police already had a warrant, he drove the vehicle back to the sheriff’s office to be thoroughly searched. Cobb testified he and other officers uncovered a digital scale, plastic baggies and two more bags of crack cocaine, each containing about $100 of the drug tucked under a seat.