NORWICH— Three City of Norwich residents were arraigned in Norwich City Court and remanded to the county jail Thursday for allegedly cooking methamphetamine in their apartment and possessing more than $2,000 worth of meth in various stages of production with the intent to sell it.
According to Second Assistant District Attorney Thomas Bowen, 34-year-old Luis Calixto was considered the primary “cook” and the principal of the drug sales.
Calixto and his roommates, 29-year-old Hollianne M. Fitch and 32-year-old Dorothy M. Owens, were each charged with the class B felony of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (two counts for Calixto), the class D felony of unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamine, the class E felony of criminal nuisance in the first degree, the class A misdemeanor of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, and the class A misdemeanor of criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree.
It is alleged on April 29 at approximately 5:15 p.m. at 28 Mitchell Street in the City of Norwich all three individuals possessed laboratory equipment for the purpose of cooking methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia such as scales to measure narcotic drugs for the purpose of sale, the chemicals required for the meth manufacturing process, more than $2,000 worth of methamphetamine in various stages of production with the intent to sell it, and packaged heroin with the intent to sell it.
Calixto was arraigned in Norwich City Court by Judge James E. Downey on April 30.
“Good morning, haven't seen you in awhile,” said Downey to Calixto.
“That's because I have been staying out of trouble,” said Calixto.
Calixto said he was last employed in December of 2014 as a cook at a Norwich restaurant before violating his probation and serving time in the county jail. He also mentioned previously working at two other local restaurants, one in Oxford and another in Norwich.
He also said he was born and raised in Long Island, moved to Chenango County with his previous girlfriend more than six years ago and had not left the state of New York since 2006. He said he has no transportation.
Calixto said he is the father of two girls who live in Long Island and two boys who live in North Norwich and Oxford. He also said he owes child support.
“His rap sheet is 17 pages long, your honor, and he was convicted of violent felony and has four misdemeanors,” said Bowen. “He also has failure-to-appears and a previous bench warrant out of this court.”
Bowen requested $100,000 cash bail or $200,000 bond be set for Calixto, because he said Calixto faces up to nine years in prison and has significant ties outside of Norwich.
“$100,000?” said Downey to Bowen.
“Yes, $100,000,” said Bowen.
“We're not talking about the candy bar (100 Grand), are we?” said Downey to Bowen.
Bowen said he was not talking about the candy bar. He said “obviously his kids won't keep him here,” citing the fact that Calixto left his two girls in Long Island.
“We believe he is the principal of it all,” said Bowen. “He cooks and sells.”
“He worked as a cook at [three different local restaurants],” said Downey. “Is that your evidence that he was the cook and cooked meth?”
