NORWICH – The Chenango County grand jury met Wednesday and handed up a number of criminal indictments. At the proceeding, the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office presents evidence against those they wish to prosecute. It is up to the jury to decide if there is enough reasonable cause to charge a person with a felony offense.
Those indicted by the grand jury are arraigned before the county or Supreme Court judge at a later date.
The grand jury indicted 14 individuals:
• Joseph A. Baxter Jr., 21, Afton, was indicted on charges of first degree criminal sexual act, a class B felony, second degree assault, a class D felony, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.
The criminal sexual act charge, as well as one count of endangering, stem from an alleged incident that occurred in the summer of 2011 in the Town of Coventry. Baxter is accused of engaging in a criminal sexual act with a youth under the age of 13. The assault and second endangering charges stem from an alleged incident that took place in February of 2012 in the Town of Afton. It’s alleged that Baxter, in concert with another individual and with intent to cause physical injury, did do so by means of a deadly weapon or instrument.
• Kyle O. Baxter, 16, Afton, was indicted on charges of second degree assault, a class D felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor. It’s alleged that Baxter, in February of 2012 and in concert with another, did cause physical injury to another individual by means of a deadly weapon or instrument.
• John J. Vaughn, 54, McDonough, was indicted on charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated and driving while intoxicated, both class E felonies. Vaughn is accused of operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .19 of 1 percent on or about Feb. 17, 2012, on County Road 8 in the Town of McDonough. It’s alleged that Vaughn was observed swaying while he walked, speaking with a slurred voice, having bloodshot and watery eyes and smelling strongly of alcohol at the time of his arrest. He has one prior conviction for driving while intoxicated, dating from May 27, 2004, in the Town of Oneonta Court, Otsego County, according to the indictment.
• Edrick L. Rouse, 34, Syracuse, was indicted on charges of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class B felony, fourth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class C felony, and fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class D felony.
It’s alleged that Rouse, on or about March 9, 2012, in the Town of Norwich, did knowingly and unlawfully possess five plastic baggies of the narcotic cocaine, with an aggregate weight of 4.47 grams, with the intent to sell.
• Robert A. Alt, 36, Pitcher, was indicted on one count of driving while intoxicated, a class D felony. Alt is accused of operating a motor vehicle while in an intoxicated condition on or about March 17, 2012, on State Highway 23 in the Town of Pharsalia. It’s alleged that Alt was observed swaying while he walked, speaking with a slurred voice, having bloodshot and watery eyes and smelling strongly of alcohol at the time of his arrest. He has two prior convictions for driving while intoxicated, dating from Feb. 5, 2003, in the Town of Lincklaen Court, and Jan. 13, 2011, in Cortland County Court, according to the indictment.
• Brittani F. Jamison, 23, Watervliet, was indicted on charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated and driving while intoxicated, both class E felonies. Jamison is accused of operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .25 of 1 percent, more than three times the legal limit, on or about March 1, 2012, in the Town of North Norwich. It’s alleged that Jamison was observed swaying while she walked, speaking with a slurred voice, having bloodshot and watery eyes and smelling strongly of alcohol at the time of her arrest. She has one prior conviction for driving while intoxicated, dating from Feb. 4, 2010, in Albany City Court, Albany County, according to the indictment.
• Terry E. Parker Jr., 29, North Norwich, was indicted on six counts of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, a class E felony. It’s alleged that Parker, on or about Aug. 14 and Aug. 15 of 2011, in the Town of North Norwich, knowing the character and content thereof, did knowingly and unlawfully possess or control obscene material which includes sexual conduct by a child less than 16 years old.
• Bernard L. Blinebry Jr., 29, Norwich, was indicted on one count of first degree promoting prison contraband, a class D felony.
