They Don’t Show, May Never Show, Prosecutor Asserts With No Bail, 2 Skip Trials By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – If Monday, Oct. 19, was a test-run on whether the accused would show up for trial under the state’s new bail reform, Otsego County failed. “We’re two-for-two on no-shows,” said District Attorney John Muehl. “I knew this is exactly what was going to happen.” Neither Joseph Mitchell, 36, New York City, or Eddie Holton, 35, Binghamton, showed…
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District Attorney John Meuhl
D.A. Expecting 50% Dip In Prosecutions By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.ALLOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN Under bail reform, county Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr. worried dangerous suspects would be freed – and, locally, one stole a truck a day after he was released. Now, under new rules of evidence, also part of the state’s criminal justice reforms, District Attorney John Muehl worries he’ll be unable to prosecute as many suspected criminals. “Arrests are way down already,” said Muehl. “Hopefully things will get…
Truitt Case Heads To Jury In Closing Statements, Attorneys Debate Timeline By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to ALLOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – For two minutes, District Attorney John Muehl stood in complete silence. “Gabriel Truitt is at 5 Walling Avenue for two minutes,” he told the jury. “You may think that’s not much time, but you can get a lot done in two minutes, especially if you’ve planned to.” Muehl, along with Public Defender Michael Trosset, made their closing statements this afternoon…
TRUITT TRIAL: Day 3 Brother Disavows Testimony He Gave Grand Jury, Police By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – Gabriel Truitt’s defense lawyers this afternoon declared they hadn’t been provided a videotape of his brother Terrence speaking with OPD officers in February 2018 brought the fatal-arson trial to a temporary standstill this afternoon. Terrence also told the court the testimony he would give would be at odds with the statements he gave to grand jury and police, further…