NORWICH – Five of the six individuals involved in the drug bust on East Main Street last Friday night, Nov. 27, have been released on their own recognizance following their scheduled Norwich City Court date. Jenkins is the only one who remains incarcerated.
Originally, at approximately 10:09 p.m., the Norwich Police Department received a trespass call from 88 East Main St. in Norwich.
The complainant reported that there were individuals on the second story of the unattached garage of the property without permission to be there.
Following a more in-depth investigation, six individuals were arrested that night on drug related charges.
John E. Strong, 43; Nathaniel J. Jenkins, 31; Cheyenne M. Davenport, 19; Diana R. Essig, 29; Lori M. Brooks, 35; Delta D. Burns, 40; were all originally charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor; and criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree, a class B misdemeanor.
John Strong, the only one of the group facing an additional charge, was charged with criminal nuisance in the first degree, a class E felony. It is alleged that Strong knowingly conducted or maintained a premise where people gathered or came for the purpose of engaging in the unlawful sale of controlled substances.
During the arrests that night, crack, heroin, marijuana, as well as drug paraphernalia were recovered by the NPD.
All six were arraigned in Norwich City Court early last Saturday morning, Nov. 28.
Davenport, Brooks, Strong, and Burns were remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $20,000 cash bail.
Delta Burns chose to post bond and therefore was released from the CCCF on Dec. 1, 2015 at approximately 6:40 p.m.
Jenkins and Essig were remanded to the CCCF without bail. Due to having prior felonies on their records, Chenango County Court is required to set bail if it is deemed necessary at the time.
Jenkins was brought before the court first with his attorney Jamie VanDenburgh.
County Judge James E. Downey presided over each case in City Court while the District Attorney Joseph A. McBride was present on behalf of the people, along with assistant District Attorney Laura Parker.
VanDenburgh did request the matter be adjourned while he waive his felony hearing before McBride added, “At this time, we are not seeking a persistent felony status on this matter.”
The matter was then transferred to Chenango County Court.
John E. Strong was brought before the court next with his attorney Mike Trosset.
At the arraignment, Strong requested an adjournment to seek counsel. At this time, Trosset waived Strong’s felony hearing as well.
Downey acknowledged that per agreement from both prosecution and defense, Strong was to be released later Wednesday.
McBride asked for conditions to be added to his release where he was to live at his mother’s residence on 88 East Main Street, but was to have no further violations of the law or enter the garage where the original arrest took place.
Downey then inquired about the two felony charges for strong, and suggested he be charged with criminal possession in the seventh degree.
“He had people over to sell narcotic drugs from out of town. They were here selling crack and heroin. He is involved in the distribution by allowing it to exist at his house. But he is a user, an enabler. He is somewhat criminally responsible of the sale of narcotics; however, we have a name of the dealer who got away that night and we believe he is from the Binghamton area,” said McBride.
“As far as I am concerned, you are a regular. You look 63 not 43 years old,” said Downey.
Strong was released on his own recognizance and instructed to report to Jim Everard in the probation department.
The matter was then transferred to Chenango County Court.
