COOPERSTOWN – Cooperstown Central schools’ “crisis response teams” at the elementary and junior-senior high school levels have prepared an “excellent plan” to address concerns students and staff may have as the result of Friday’s arrest of phys-ed teacher Justin Hobbie on charges of distributing child pornography.
In a message sent to the community at 6:04 p.m., Supt. of Schools Bill Crankshaw said both teams had met today to discuss the “very serious charges” against Hobbie, 41, who was arrested at his Springfield Center home by state police and officers of the federal Department of Homeland Security.
NEW BERLIN – State Police have arrested a Morris man after it was reported he sexually assaulted a victim at knife point in the New Berlin area.
Dustin C. Freeman, 30, was charged with rape, criminal sexual act, and unlawful imprisonment, all in the first degree, at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday.
Troopers located Freeman in Rome; he fled on foot, but was taken into custody after a brief search by Rome city police, state parole officers and Troop D officers.
ONEONTA – State police are seeking the public’s help in locating James C. Sitts, who was living in the Town of Oneonta. He is wanted on a warrant for two counts of grand larceny, third degree.
Sitts is described as a white male, 39, about 5-foot-10, 164 pounds, with brown hair, a beard and blue eyes.
COOPERSTOWN – The Cooperstown Central School physical-education teacher arrested this morning received and distributed child pornography over the Internet, the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District confirmed in a just-issued press release.
The teacher, Justin Hobbie, 41, Springfield Center, used peer-to-peer file-sharing services, a federal crime, the statement alleges. An initial review of Hobbie’s desktop computer revealed numerous incriminating files, it said.
He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks. She ordered him detained pending a hearing, scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, in Syracuse Federal Court.
COOPERSTOWN – Justin Hobbie was identified as the phys-ed teacher arrested on child-pornography charges a few minutes ago in a telephone message to parents from Supt. of Schools Bill Crankshaw.
“There is no evidence this arrest and charge involves any children of Cooperstown Central School,” Crankshaw said, adding, “All steps are being taken to ensure the safety of our students and faculty.”
COOPERSTOWN – The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Albany plans to issue details at 1 p.m. on child-pornography allegations reported against at CCS phys-ed teacher, according to spokesman Michael Barnett. Check back for details this afternoon.
According to one report, the teacher was arrested at his home yesterday by state police and agents of the federal Department of Homeland Security.
State Police at Troop C are warning residents of a phone scam where the caller claims to be with NYSEG and threatens to cut off service.
Troopers have received several calls from businesspeople, who report callers demanding immediately payment using a prepaid debit card, or service will be cut.
NEW LISBON – Anthony J. Pagillo, 32, was arrested for manufacturing methamphetamine, third degree, after his landlord saw what appeared to be drug paraphernalia in the tenant’s bedroom, sheriff’s deputies report.
“Deputies responded to the residence on Monday, Nov. 26, and observed, in plain view, chemicals and equipment commonly used to make methamphetamine in the bedroom,” according to the police report.
WORCESTER – A home-health aide was arrested after allegedly stealing $11,000 from an elderly couple in her care, according to Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr.
Stephanie Shulgay, 31, Worcester, allegedly took cash advances from the bank account of a 91-year-old man and his wife while working as as their home health aide, using their credit and debit cards.
ONEONTA – The school-bus monitor in the crash with a pickup truck Monday afternoon, Alana Correale, is being released from Bassett Hospital today as a result of injuries she sustained, according to her husband, Anthony.
Earlier reports that only minor injuries were sustained are inaccurate, he said.
Mrs. Correale suffered a fractured clavicle, a fractured T1 vertebrae and head trauma, he said.
