Investigations, Arrests, Anonymous Allegations Fuel Tensions between Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney

By JOSHUA YOUNGQUISTCOOPERSTOWN

A series of high‑profile arrests, internal investigations, and newly surfaced allegations have placed the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office and the Otsego County District Attorney’s Office under an unusual degree of public scrutiny, raising questions about oversight, communication, and trust between the county’s two primary law‑enforcement bodies.

The most visible flashpoint is the recent arrest of Lt. Thomas Fellrath, a longtime member of the Sheriff’s Office, who was charged with multiple felony drug offenses following a months‑long investigation conducted jointly by the New York State Police Special Investigations Division and the Otsego County District Attorney’s Office. According to the State Police release, investigators allege Fellrath participated in drug distribution across multiple counties and, at times, used county‑owned vehicles while doing so. Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr. confirmed that Fellrath was terminated immediately upon arrest.

The arrest has intensified public discussion about internal oversight within the Sheriff’s Office. A former corrections officer speaking at a meeting of the Otsego County Board of Representatives questioned how a high‑ranking supervisor responsible for jail security could allegedly engage in drug activity undetected. He also raised concerns about overtime practices and the use of GPS‑equipped county vehicles, noting that the sheriff has the ability to monitor vehicle locations in real time.

These concerns have been echoed in community correspondence. One resident wrote to AllOtsego, noting that “every vehicle that is used by the Otsego County Sheriff’s [Office] has GPS tracking,” suggesting that repeated travel outside the county should have prompted internal review.