Press release
A Silver Springs woman is facing welfare charges after she allegedly filed false documents with the Department of Social Services.
On March 4, 2019 Rachel S. (Stra) Hare, 48, of Gainesville was charged with Welfare Fraud 4th Degree, a Felony, Offering a False Instrument to File 1st Degree and Grand Larceny 4th, both felonies, after an investigation by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Social Services and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.
It is alleged that (Stra) Hare failed to report she had been married since 2014. By failing to report the marriage and exceeding the resource limit for a married couple she received a total of $23,779.73 in county taxpayer benefits and Social Security Administration benefits to which she was not entitled to. (Stra) Hare is scheduled to appear March 25, 2019 in Warsaw Town Court.
On February 20, 2019, Deputy McGinnis and Officer Spink of the Perry Police Department responded to a suspected heroin overdose in the Town of Castile.
The victim of the overdose survived and was treated by medical personnel.
An investigation was conducted into the sale of the drugs to the victim.
On March 3, 2019, Eric Martin, 32, of Perry, was arrested and charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (Felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (Felony), Criminal Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument, Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (Felony), and Criminal Possession of Personal Identification in the Second Degree.
Martin is accused of selling heroin and a needle to the victim of the overdose. He is also accused of unlawfully using another person’s debit card to accept payment for the heroin and needle.
The highest charges are class B felonies.
Martin was arraigned in the Village of Warsaw Court and committed to Wyoming County Jail in lieu of $5000 cash bail. He appeared in the Town of Castile Court on March 4, 2019. Leroy Police Department’s Officer Greg Kellogg assisted in the investigation.
Katie J. Winford, 26, of Arcade was arrested on March 2, 2019 following a traffic stop on West Main Street in the Village of Arcade.
Winford was stopped by the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office when she was observed weaving into the opposite lane of traffic due to snow covered windows.
A roadside investigation was conducted along with field sobriety testing and Winford was placed under arrest for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs.
Winford was transported to the Arcade Police Department where she underwent a drug influence evaluation by a NYS Certified Drug Recognition Expert. Winford was determined to be impaired by a drug and unable to operate a vehicle safely.
Winford is charged with Driver’s View Obstructed, Failure to Keep Right, Uninspected Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Possession of Marijuana, and Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs.
Winford was released on appearance tickets returnable to the Village of Arcade Court on April 4, 2019 at 07:30p.m.
Two warrants suspects were arrested on separate warrants on February 26, 2019:
Michael C. Hill, Jr., 27, of Wyoming, was arrested at a residence on North Academy Street in the Village of Wyoming on an outstanding Wyoming County Family Court warrant for his arrest. Hill was arraigned in the Town of Warsaw Court where bail was set in the amount of $1,000.00 cash bail or $2,000.00 bond. Hill was committed to the Wyoming County Jail to await a 9:15am appearance in Wyoming County Family Court on the following date.
Joseph C. Minkel, 51, of Java, was arrested at a residence on Holland Road in the Town of Java. Minkel was wanted on a bench warrant issued by the Java Town Court for failure to pay a fine in the amount of $1,400.00. Minkel had owed the fine in 2011 following a conviction for Driving While Intoxicated. Minkel was arraigned in the Town of Sheldon Court where a family member posted $1,400.00 bail. Minkel was scheduled to appear in the Town of Java Court on March 6, 2019 for further proceedings.
{NOTE: The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. All police blotter items are posted after they are received from the law enforcement agency that released it. If you believe that any information is missing or incorrect, please contact the law enforcement agency that released the information.}