Anais Soto sentenced to eight years in Robinson murder case

By: Reporter 07/02/2021 10:27 am

Anais Soto cries Friday, July 2, as she pleads guilty to burglary in the first degree, shortly before sentencing in Otsego County Court. Soto was a defendant in the 2019 murder of Kenneth Robinson. (Kevin Limiti/Allotsego.com).

Anais Soto sentenced
to eight years
in Robinson murder case

By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN – Anais Soto of Oneonta, one of the accomplices in the 2019 murder of Kenneth Robinson during a botched robbery, was sentenced Friday, July 2, to eight years in prison and four years probation after pleading guilty to burglary in the first degree Friday, July 2, in Otsego County Court.

Soto, 17, was visibly shaken during the proceedings, crying at points. Judge John Lambert had to remind her several times to speak up.

District Attorney John Muehl read a statement from Kenneth Robinson’s mother, Sharon Sawyer, in which she called for the highest possible sentence allowed by law.

DA mulls vacating Borggreen plea deal following Robinson murder conviction

By: Staff 07/01/2021 3:26 pm

DA mulls vacating Borggreen plea deal
following Robinson murder conviction

By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN — Now that the trial of Dylan Robinson has ended in conviction, Otsego County District Attorney John Muehl said he is considering restarting the process against Robinson’s accomplice, Alexander Borggreen, for refusing to testify against Robinson despite making a plea deal.

Muehl said he was satisfied with the conviction, which the jury returned Wednesday, June 23, although he said he was surprised they didn’t convict Robinson of arson.

Robinson was convicted of second degree murder in the Oct. 10, 2019, shooting death of his father, Kenneth Robinson, as well as robbery in the third degree and first degree burglary.

“You have a 15-year-old who killed his father. Nobody takes pleasure in putting a 15-year-old in prison,” Muehl said, calling what Robinson did a “pretty violent crime.”

Muehl said he anticipates a harsh sentence because of the nature of the crime.

Muehl said he hasn’t made a decision on what is going to happen to Borggreen.

“I can make a motion to vacate his plea and his sentence and start over again. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do,” Muehl said. “But once again, we’re dealing with a 17-year-old. They don’t make the greatest decisions, and in reality, him not testifying, other than the fact that he could’ve established for certain for the jury that Dylan Robinson was the one who shot Kenneth Robinson, was almost as good as him testifying.”

The defense attorney for Robinson, Thomas Hegeman, said that the trial “was a tough case.”

“The bottom line is we were offered a plea bargain, my client didn’t like it so we went to trial,” Hegeman said.

The plea deal would’ve been for murder one, with a sentence of 22 to life.

Muehl said the crime was unusual in Otsego. “The last young person I had killed his parents when he was 19,” he said. “In my career I’ve never had anything like this with a 15-year-old.”

Milford woman charged with arson

By: Reporter 06/24/2021 9:01 am

Milford woman charged with arson

STAFF REPORT • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

The Otsego County Sheriff’s Office announced that a Milford woman has been charged with two counts of fourth-degree arson.

Susan Raczkowski, 50, was arrested Thursday, June 17, following an investigation into a structure fire on Evening Inn Road in the town of Milford, according to a media release from the department.

Cooperstown police investigating park graffiti

By: Reporter 06/24/2021 8:42 am

Cooperstown police
investigating park graffiti

STAFF REPORT • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

The Cooperstown Police Department is investigating racist, pornographic and other graffiti that was drawn, written and scratched into signs and equipment at Badger Park on Tuesday, June 22, or Wednesday, June 23.

Cooperstown Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh said the CPD is canvassing the neighborhood around the park, including going door-to-door on Beaver Street, which the park entrance is located, asking neighbors if they heard or saw anything Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

Village crews were at the park Wednesday morning, not long after the graffiti was reported to village officials, Tillapaugh said. They quickly scrubbed off the drawings made in marker on the playground equipment, but were not aware of the “N word” scratched into a sign at the entrance of the park until late Wednesday, she said.

“They will be cleaning it off first thing (Thursday) morning with a buffer/cleaner,” she said.

Jury finds Dylan Robinson guilty of murdering his father

By: Reporter 06/23/2021 11:32 am

Dylan Robinson shortly before the guilty verdict was read at the Otsego County Courthouse. (Kevin Limiti/Allotsego)

Jury finds
Dylan Robinson guilty
of murdering his father

By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOERSTOWN — An Otsego County jury found teenager Dylan Robinson guilty of second-degree murder in the Oct. 10, 2019, shooting death of his father, Kenneth Robinson of Worcester.

The jury acquitted Robinson of one count , third-degree arson, but found him guilty of two other counts in addition to the murder charges, third-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.

Robinson stood with his hands in his pockets at the verdict was read.

“Everything went as planned,” District Attorney John Muehl, allowing that Alexander Borggreen refusing to testify was a slight hiccup.

“In my opinion the right verdict was reached, but how do you ever feel good about putting a 17 year old in prison? You don’t. It’s a no-win situation. All these kids go to prison but you can’t have even 17 year old’s killing people.” Muehl said.

Muehl said that Borggreen, who was already convicted, might be brought up on further charges as a consequence to refusing to testify against Robinson.

Muehl named Anais Soto and Robinson’s brother Cory Robinson as keys to the conviction, but stated that he felt bad brining Cory Robinson up and felt it wouldn’t have been necessary had Borggreen testified.

Sentencing will take place Monday, Aug. 23, at the Otsego County Courthouse in Cooperstown.

Inmate’s death in Otsego County Jail being investigated as a suicide

By: Reporter 06/22/2021 6:49 pm

Inmate’s death in
Otsego County Jail
being investigated as a suicide

STAFF REPORT • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

State officials are investigating the death of an inmate at the Otsego County Jail in the town of Middlefield on Saturday, June 19, according to a media release from Otsego County Sheriff Richard Devlin, Jr.

At approximately 11:15 a.m., correction officers found a male inmate unresponsive in his cell in what is believed to be a suicide attempt, according to the media release; Officers performed lifesaving measures, utilizing an automated external defibrillator and doing CPR until the arrival of first responders, who took over treatment.

The inmate was transported to Bassett Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 1 p.m.

The NYS Commission of Correction as well as the NYS Attorney General’s Office is reviewing the death. The Sheriff’s Office is fully cooperating with the independent reviews, according to the media release.

“We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones,” the release said.

Robinson murder trial goes to jury, verdict expected Wednesday

By: Reporter 06/22/2021 6:01 pm

Dylan Robinson, right, appeared in Otsego County Court on Monday, June 21, to face charges that he murdered his father, Kenneth Robinson in 2019. (Kevin Limiti/AllOtsego.com).

Robinson murder trial
goes to jury,
verdict expected Wednesday

By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOERSTOWN — The second day of the Dylan Robinson trial at the Otsego County Courthouse ended Tuesday, June 22, with jury deliberations, after the prosecution rested and the defense chose not to submit any evidence.

Robinson is accused of allegedly killing his father, Kenneth Robinson, and burning his house after a failed robbery attempt. He is charged with second-degree murder, burglary and attempted robbery in the first degree and third-degree arson.

Tuesday morning testimony began with Cory Robinson, 14, who testified that he remembered the night of Oct. 10, 2019 “because that’s the day my dad died.”

Cory Robinson, 12 at the time, was awoken by gunshots in the house.

He said that armed people came in his home wearing blue bandannas and he recognized two of them as his brother Dylan Robinson and Alexander Borggreen. Someone pointed a gun at him and asked for his phone, so he gave it to them.

Afterwards, he and his brother, Aiden, were told to put pillows up to their faces and walked a short distance from the house. They were told to walk back and found their home in flames.

He found Kenneth Robinson’s body when he came back to the house. “When I took the pillow off, I saw my dad,” Cory Robinson said.

Robinson murder trial begins with dramatic testimony

By: Reporter 06/21/2021 5:08 pm

Robinson murder trial
begins with dramatic testimony

By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN – The trial of Dylan Robinson over the alleged murder of his father, Kenneth Robinson, at his Worcester home began Monday, June 21, at the Otsego County Courthouse.

Robinson is accused of attempting to rob his father of about $5,000 in marijuana and cash. Robinson was 15 at the time. Robinson and several other local teens were arrested several days after the murder, as was then 32-year-old Oneonta resident Nicolas Meridy.

Alexander Borggreen, then 16, Anais Soto, then 15, Alexis Lotterman, then 16 and Tatiana Febo, then 17, were also arrested.

All of the defendants with the exception of Robinson pled out; Febo and Lotterman had their cases moved to juvenile court.

The robbery apparently went badly, leading to a physical altercation. Kenneth Robinson suffered two fatal gunshot wounds, one to the head and one to the chest.

Afterwards, the defendants attempted to burn his house down to disguise the murder-robbery.

The first day of the trial was punctuated by a couple of dramatic moments, which mirrored the intensity of the crime itself.

“It’s a very simple case,” District Attorney John Muehl said in his opening statement. “A very straightforward case, very heartbreaking case and very sad.”

Missing Roseboom girl safe, back at home

By: Reporter 06/21/2021 9:13 am

Missing Roseboom girl safe,
back at home

STAFF REPORT • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

A missing teen from Roseboom, whom police had been looking for for the past few days, was located Saturday, June 19.

State Police say 14-year-old Anjelia Sturtevant was located Saturday morning after a 911 tip came in about her whereabouts.

Before being located, police said she was last seen at her home in Roseboom the night of Monday, June 14.

No other information about where she has been is being released.

Murder trial of Dylan Robinson set to begin Monday, June 21

By: Reporter 06/18/2021 2:17 pm

Murder trial of Dylan Robinson
set to begin Monday, June 21

STAFF REPORT • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

The trial for Dylan Robinson in the 2019 shooting death of Kenneth Robinson is set for Monday, June 21, after the jury was selected between Tuesday, June 15, and Thursday, June 17.

Kenneth Robinson was shot to death and then his trailer was set on fire.

Dylan Robinson was 15 at that time. Several of his younger siblings were in the trailer at the time.

The trial had been scheduled to begin April 14, but was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

State Police search for missing teen from Roseboom

By: Reporter 06/17/2021 11:15 am

State Police search for missing teen from Roseboom

STAFF REPORT • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

State Police announced that they are searching for a teen who went missing on Monday, June 14.

Anjelia Sturtevant, 14, was last seen at her home in Roseboom near Cooperstown.

Sturtevant is 5’2 weighing approximately 190 pounds. She was last seen wearing a pink camouflaged pull over sweatshirt and may be carrying a white makeup bag. She has brown hair, brown eyes, an eyebrow piercing above her left eye, a nose piercing on the right side of her nose, pierced ears, a lower lip piercing and a tongue piercing.

Call New York State Police investigators if you have any information on her whereabouts at 607-561-7400.

Neglected horses rescued from farm

By: Reporter 06/11/2021 12:47 pm

Neglected horses rescued from farm

STAFF REPORT • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

The Susquehanna SPCA, with help from the Otsego County Sheriff, rescued some 30 horses from a farm that was apparently hoarding them.

Stacie Haynes said on Facebook that they worked more than 30 hours to relieve the farmer from those horses, who was unable to manage the amount that he had.

“Seriously cannot thank the many amazing people who have stepped up to help,” Haynes said in a Facebook post. “As always, the SQSPCA staff and our Sheriff’s Deputies have and will continue to go above and beyond for animals. The volunteers are the absolute best.”

Most of the horses were relocated to the Otsego County Fairgrounds. The owner of the horses was not criminally charged.

Man arrested for allegedly discharging weapon during altercation at Oneonta Speedway

By: Reporter 06/07/2021 12:54 pm

Man arrested for
allegedly discharging weapon
during altercation
at Oneonta Speedway

By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

Randy Lamont Butler, 28, was arrested for allegedly discharging a gun at the Speedway in Oneonta in the early hours of Sunday, June 6, Oneonta police say.

The incident started when Butler got into a verbal altercation with a woman at the Speedway at 325 Main St., which spilled out into the parking lot, where another woman also got involved, according to Lt. Chris Witzenberg, the city’s acting chief of police.

According to Witzenberg, this is the first time a gun was illegally discharged in the city since 1999.

Alleged Halloween party stabber appears in court

By: Reporter 05/24/2021 2:15 pm

Alleged Halloween party stabber appears in court

By KEVIN LIMITI• Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

Public defender Brett Cowen, left, defends Richard Gantt on Monday, May 24, in Otsego County Court in Cooperstown. (Kevin Limiti/AllOtsego).

COOPERSTOWN – An Oneonta man, whose violent altercation in Unadilla ended in a stabbing and the victim having to be taken by helicopter to a medical facility, appeared in Otsego County court Monday, May 24, to face charges of assault in the first and second degree.

Richard Gantt voluntarily agreed to be interviewed by state police, according to testimony.

“I was called because it was a serious case,” Jeremy Hicks, investigator for the New York State Police, said via video in the courtroom.

The confrontation which led to the stabbing occurred on Sunday, Oct, 18, 2020, at a Halloween party, with Logan Kabana of Oneonta.

Gantt, who is Black, claimed during the police interview that Kabana had made racial remarks, leading to the fight.

However, Kabana said during the proceedings, that he had been hanging out with Gantt and did a shot with him when he made a remark that somebody who was hanging out near the fire pit was a serial killer and was going to get Gantt. This allegedly caused Gantt to fly into a rage and resulted in Kabana being assaulted and stabbed.

The next day, Kabana picked out Gantt from a photo array and police sought out Gantt’s girlfriend, who works at Springbrook, and eventually got him to come down to the state police barracks in Oneonta, where he was read his Miranda rights.

Lambert at one point warned an observer in the courtroom, who was shaking their head demonstrably in reaction to an overruled objection, to no longer do that or they would be removed from the courtroom.

There was no return court appearance set, but Lambert predicted they would convene again in about a month.

Police review leaves behind serious debates

By: Reporter 05/20/2021 1:00 pm

Police review leaves behind serious debates

By KEVIN LIMITI • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

Oneonta’s Common Council will likely meet its self-imposed June 1, deadline to review, and change or adopt, the city’s Community Advisory Board’s recommendations for the Oneonta Police Department, Mayor Gary Herzig said Tuesday, May 17.

Among the topics being discussed are the status of no-knock raids in Oneonta, making statistics of crime and arrests available to the public and a review board to examine the high number of arrests of people of color.

“The city’s process has been very good. We’ve had input from a large number of community members,” Herzig said. “The council is researching our ability to implement those plans … I’m happy with the fact that we took the governor’s order to heart and out of it came a very robust report.”

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