Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Derrick O’Meara, who is the director of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center(CAC), announces the arrests of two men as the result of an investigation conducted by OCSO Sergeant Melissa Bolton, who is assigned at the CAC, regarding allegations of the physical abuse of two male children at a residence in the outer district of the City of Rome in 2024 and 2025.
Through investigation it was learned that in April of 2025, William Coonrod Sr., of the Town of Lee and William Coonrod Jr., of the City of Rome, did intentionally cause physical injury to a child less than seven years old.
On Friday, April 24, 2026 Coonrod Sr. was arrested in the City of Rome and transported to the Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building. Coonrod Jr. turned himself in to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.
Coonrod Sr. and Coonrod Jr., were both charged with one count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D Felony and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor.
Additionally, Coonrod Sr. was charged with Criminal Obstruction of Breathing and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, both Class A Misdemeanors, for an incident involving the second male child.
Coonrod Sr. and Coonrod Jr. were processed and arraigned at CAP Court at the OCSO Correctional Facility on April 24, 2026. Upon arraignment, Coonrod Jr. was remanded to the OCCF in lieu of $10,000 cash bail/$20,000 bond. Coonrod Sr. was remanded to the OCCF in lieu of $5,000 cash bail/$10,000 bond. Orders of protection were issued upon arraignment.
The Child Advocacy Center was assisted with this investigation by the OCSO Criminal Investigation Unit and Patrol Division.
