NORWICH – On Monday, two Bronx men, Noel J. Budram, 18, and his co-defendant William Rochez, 19, appeared in Norwich City Court for their felony hearing after both were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; and criminal nuisance in the first degree, a class E felony. Rochez is also facing charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and criminal impersonation in the second degree, both class A misdemeanors.

Despite the defense attorneys' counter-arguments, the judge denied dismissal of the charges. Bail was set at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond for both defendants, who were remanded back to the Chenango County Correctional Facility.

Two Norwich Police officers who conducted the arrests provided testimony. The testimony suggested that on June 10, 2014, at the Howard Johnson in Norwich, Rochez was approached by Norwich Police Officer Justin D. Carpenter, who had been doing a hall walk-through following complaints of the smell of marijuana.

Carpenter testified that he questioned Rochez and explained to the court that he recognized Rochez from an earlier traffic stop. Rochez consented to a search of his person and was found to be in possession of cash and a yellow pill. He explained that he had found the pill and did not know what it was. Rochez was arrested for possession of the pill, which was later confirmed to be oxycodone, for which Rochez did not have a prescription. He had also reportedly provided Carpenter a false name.

According to testimony, Norwich Police Officer George Carnrike, III arrived to provide back-up and, after knocking on the room emitting the smell of marijuana, was invited in by Budram. According to Carnrike, he was given verbal consent to search the room and Budram's person. Nothing was found on Budram except a “wad of cash.” Following a search of the room, Carnrike said a baggie was found near the first bed, which was suspected and later confirmed to contain crack cocaine.

Upon questioning, Budram denied ownership of the crack cocaine and yelled to Rochez to take ownership, as Budram was facing another charge from a previous incident. Rochez admitted ownership to the crack cocaine and both stated that the first bed was Rochez's.