Liberty man arrested for burglary

LIBERTY, NY — On February 8 the Village of Liberty Police arrested Justus McMoore, 33, of Liberty, after responding to a call for a burglary in progress. The call came around 4:20 a.m. when two residents awoke to find a person inside their apartment. 

After finding him inside a closet, the man began to physically attack one of the residents. Liberty Police responded and found the resident in a physical struggle with the intruder. Police were able to take the suspect into custody and later identified him as Justus McMoore. 

McMoore was charged with burglary in the first degree, a felony and assault in the third degree, criminal mischief in the forth degree and the possession of burglar’s tools charged as misdemeanors. McMoore was arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail without bail.

Delgado pushes expanded rural broadband

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During the Small Business Committee’s hearing on February 7 that focused on economic growth for underserved businesses, Rep. Antonio Delgado (NY-19) emphasized the importance of expanding rural broadband access so businesses can prosper in Upstate New York. 

“In parts of my district, I drive by large signs that read, ‘broadband coming soon.’ It’s a sight that is hard to imagine in New York, in the USA, in the 21st century,” Delgado said. “I can’t overstate how big an issue this is for small businesses and communities in my district in Upstate New York. In today’s global economy, it’s unthinkable that startup businesses, mom and pop shops, young students, small dairy farmers and innovative sustainable agriculture operations are being left behind because of where they live and operate.”

Delgado focused on what can be done not just to expand broadband access but to ensure that, once it is provided, it is high-quality. “As we look to a more connected future, I think it’s critical that we also work to ensure equitable broadband access. The minimum service thresholds today will be unworkable for folks tomorrow,” Delgado said. 

Cartwright introduces voting legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright introduced legislation on February 8 to ensure that all American workers have access to the ballot box during federal elections. The Time Off to Vote Act would require employers to grant their employees at least two hours of paid leave to vote in federal elections. Such a provision already exists in some states; Cartwright’s bill would extend the paid leave practice to all states.

In half of the U.S., employers are not required to give their workers paid leave to vote. In 19 of those states, employers are not required to let their employees leave work to vote at all. During each election, many wage earners choose not to go to the polls because they cannot afford the unpaid time that voting requires, especially when lines are long.

“We need to do more to bring people into the electorate,” said Cartwright. “In a true democracy, every eligible voter should be able to cast a ballot without having to make a professional or economic sacrifice. Our election results should reflect the will and desires of the American people.”

Man sentenced for violating protection order 

MILFORD, PA — Gary Lee Christman, age 35, of Scranton, PA, was sentenced to 12 to 24 months in the Pike County Jail and fined $700 for three counts of criminal contempt, two counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief.

Christman violated an existing protection from an abuse order by entering an individual’s residence in Palmyra Township on March 2, 2018, confronting the resident and smashing a television with a retail value in excess of $1,000. 

The next day, Christman violated the PFA again, entering the residence, arguing with the resident and causing $500.00 in damage. 

On April 27, Christman entered the residence in Palmyra Township again, striking the resident in an attempt to cause injury. 

On May 3, Christman failed to comply with the existing PFA order, entering the residence again, arguing with the individual and striking her in an attempt to cause injury.