NORWICH – The Chenango County Grand Jury met Wednesday 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.
The grand jury indicted eight people yesterday with a total of 10 felonies, along with a number of lesser crimes.
• Tommy L. Kessinger Sr., 24, Smyrna, was indicted for first degree sexual abuse, a D class felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. According to the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Kessinger molested a 4-year-old child placed under his care March 17.
The Sheriff’s Office reported the charges involved Kessinger having “sexual contact with a 4-year-old he was babysitting” in the Village of Smyrna.
Kessinger was arraigned on the charges in Guilford Town Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.
• Justin C. Harrington, 23, Norwich, was indicted for first degree criminal nuisance, an E class felony, after allegedly allowing other people to sell cocaine from his 115 Rexford St. Trailer Park address, April 5, in the City of Norwich. The indictment also claims Harrington benefited from the sale of cocaine and heroin.
“Our investigation leads us to believe that if Justin wasn’t directly involved with the sales of controlled substances, he at the very least assisted others in their possession and sales from his residence in the trailer park,” said Police Chief Joseph Angelino at the time of Harrington’s arrest.
• Michael J. Mathis, 25, Smyrna, was indicted for second degree burglary, a C class felony, and fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, an E class felony. According to the indictment, Mathis stole a pistol from a Sherburne home and was later found in possession of the weapon by police.
The Sheriff’s Office reported the crime took place between Aug. 1 and Aug. 9. Police said the victim was unaware his firearm had been stolen until a number of days later, when he went to retrieve it.
