Syracuse Criminal Law Blog

If New York Senator Charles E. Schumer has anything to say about it, there will soon be a new federal law that targets scrap metal thieves. The idea behind the proposed legislation is to make it a federal crime to steal scrap metal under certain circumstances. It is also meant to strength enforcement measures by requiring recyclers to keep detailed records of transactions, in conjunction with other requirements.

It's called the Metal Theft Prevention Act of 2013. The New York senator promoted the proposed law by suggesting that its passage would keep scrap metal thieves away from all metals except for prison bars. There was, however, no information disclosed on the status of the bill or when it might be considered by Congress. Nevertheless, the intent is to help law enforcement at state and local levels by providing an additional level of enforcement at the federal level. This may come into play when scrap metals allegedly stolen from one jurisdiction are offered for sale in another.

A teenage driver, a single vehicle accident in the early morning hours and allegations of drunk driving are an all-too-common recipe for disaster on New York roadways. Law enforcement officials in Madison County say those potentially lethal ingredients combined to result in a fatal pickup truck accident not long after midnight on a recent Thursday morning. A 19-year-old woman thought to have been the driver of the pickup was subsequently located and formally accused of a number of DWI related charges.

A New York State Police spokesman said that the woman was headed southbound on a Madison County roadway when she lost control of the vehicle. The pickup went off the left side of the road and ultimately struck a silo. There were four occupants, including the driver, and a 25-year-old male passenger was declared dead at the crash site. Two other male passengers, both 21 years of age, were ejected from the vehicle and later hospitalized with injuries from which they are expected to recover. There were no reports of any injuries to the woman that authorities believe was driving the pickup.

A New York man already facing federal charges of receiving and possessing child pornography has now been accused of rape and murder. The state murder indictment includes counts for murder in the first degree and numerous other violent crimes. The 37-count indictment is based upon an incident that prosecutors say occurred in mid-March in a suburb of Syracuse.

A mother and her 10-year-old daughter were leaving the parking lot of a local mall after attending a gym class. A 29-year-old man is said to have accosted them with an air pistol and cable ties, forcing them to stop their vehicle. He reportedly directed the mother to drive to a corner of the lot, bound their hands with the cable and then raped the child in the presence of her mother. The Onondaga County District Attorney says the mother fought with the attacker once he turned his attention to her. In doing so, according to the DA, the daughter was able to escape.

Saratoga Springs police say that there is a drug ring inundating their New York town with cocaine and heroin. As part of an ongoing investigation, police have arrested two men they believe are part of this suspected drug ring. If the men are convicted of the drug charges filed against them, they could spend significant time in prison.

Based on the investigation of the Saratoga Springs Police Department Special Investigations Narcotic Unit, the two men were arrested after being pulled over in Clifton Park. The men have both been charged with three felony counts and one misdemeanor count. The felony counts include a third-degree count of criminal possession, a third-degree count relating to the intent to sell and a fourth-degree charge of conspiracy. The misdemeanor they have been charged with is seventh-degree possession.