Trial Date Set
Peru – Michael James, charged in connection with the September 20th dog attack on Mrs. Loretta Timmons, appeared in front of Judge Lawrence Cabana in Peru Town Court on Tuesday, January 9, 2018. Judge Cabana denied earlier defense motions to dismiss the charges and set a trial date of May 2, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. The jury will be selected on that date. Actual court proceedings are expected to begin on May 3. A pre-trial conference will be held on February 6, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.
James faces Class A misdemeanor charges of Criminal Contempt in the 2nd Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the 2nd Degree and an unclassified misdemeanor under the NYS Agricultural and Markets Law. NYS Police investigators determined that in 2016 the Town Of Chesterfield Town Court found one of James’s dogs to be dangerous and ordered James to permanently confine the dog. That Court Order supports the criminal contempt charge.
Judge Cabana noted the pubic interest in this case and expressed frustration that this case is taking so long to resolve; however, trials have already been scheduled in Peru Town Court during March and April. He said, “Peru is a very busy court.”
Posted: January 9th, 2018 under Adirondack Region News, General News, Law Enforcement News, Northern NY News, Peru News.