State Police arrest Brunswick man for Child Pornography Possession
On April 9, 2025, State Police of Brunswick, with the assistance of the Troop G Computer Crimes Unit, the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, arrested Dustin E. Maxon, 33, of Brunswick, NY, for Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, a class “D” felony, and Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, a class “E” felony.
Maxon is accused of promoting and possessing images consistent with child sexual exploitation. His arrest followed an investigation and the execution of a search warrant at his Brunswick, NY, residence on April 9, 2025. The investigation stemmed from a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Maxon was arrested and processed at SP Brunswick. He was then arraigned in Brunswick Town Court where he was remanded to the Rensselaer County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 cash, $50,000 bond, or a $500,000 partially secured bond.
Traffic Stop Leads to Firearm Arrest and Drug Seizure
On April 10, 2025, members of Troop K’s Community Stabilization Unit (CSU) conducted a traffic stop on a 2007 Toyota traveling northbound on the Taconic State Parkway in the town of Putnam Valley for violations of vehicle and traffic law. During the stop, troopers interviewed the operator and sole occupant of the vehicle, identified as Modesto E. Martinez, 33, of East Elmhurst, NY. An exterior sniff of the vehicle was conducted with the assistance of New York State K9 Fortini, which yielded a positive alert for the presence of illegal narcotics. A probable cause search was conducted by CSU where they located an electronically operated hidden compartment within the front passenger seat’s seatback.
A subsequent search of the hidden compartment led to the discovery of:
- A loaded Ruger handgun
- Approximately 193g Cocaine
- Approximately 36g of Heroin
- Approximately 63g of Percocet
- Approximately 14g of Oxycodone
- Approximately 51g of Xanax
- Approximately 3g of Fentanyl
Martinez was taken into custody and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd (A Felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd (B Felony), Criminal Possession Controlled Substance 5th (D Felony), Criminal Possession Of A Firearm (E Felony), Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd (C Felony) Criminal Use Drug Paraphernalia 2nd (A Misdemeanor), Criminal Possession Controlled Substance 7th ( A Misdemeanor) and Criminal Use Drug Paraphernalia 2nd ( A Misdemeanor)
Martinez was arraigned in the Town of Kent Court and remanded to Putnam County Jail.
The investigation remains ongoing.
State Police arrest two following Middleburgh traffic stop
On March 17, 2025, State Police arrested Amanda E. Vasquez, 35, of Cobleskill, NY, for Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the fifth degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree, and Vehicle and Traffic Law violations.
Tessa N. Taylor, 30, of Cobleskill, NY, was also arrested for Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the fifth degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree.
On March 17, 2025, at about 9:40 p.m., Troopers stopped a vehicle on State Route 145 in Middleburgh, NY, for a Vehicle and Traffic Law violation. The driver was identified as Vasquez, and the passenger was identified as Taylor. Felony-weight narcotics were discovered in the vehicle, and both were arrested.
They were transported to SP Cobleskill for processing. They were then transported to the Schoharie County Correctional Facility to await arraignment.
State Police arrest Cobleskill man for Child Endangerment
On April 10, 2025, State Police arrested Paul G. Hallock, 65, of Cobleskill, NY, for five counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
On April 7, 2025, Troopers received a complaint that Hallock reportedly had inappropriate conversations with students at the William H. Golding Middle School in Cobleskill, NY, while working there as a lunch monitor. The investigation determined that from October 2024 until February 2025, Hallock allegedly had conversations with multiple students under the age of 17 that were injurious to the mental and moral welfare of the children.
Hallock was arrested and processed at SP Cobleskill. He was then turned over to the Schoharie County Correctional Facility to await arraignment.
The Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School District cooperated during the investigation, and Hallock was placed on administrative leave
If you have information or believe you may be an additional victim, please contact State Police at 518-457-6811 or email at Crimetip@troopers.ny.gov.
Troop K Community Stabilization Unit Arrest Man on Drug Charges
On April 10, 2025, members of Troop K’s Community Stabilization Unit (CSU), in collaboration with the Mount Vernon Police Department, conducted an enforcement detail in the City of Mount Vernon. During the operation, Troop K CSU observed a male engaging in narcotics transactions in the area of Union Avenue. When officers approached, the individual—later identified as Horace Hammonds, 40, of Mount Vernon, NY—fled on foot, prompting a brief pursuit. He was ultimately taken into custody without further incident.
Hammonds was charged with the following:
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd-B Felony
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 4th-C Felony
- Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance 5th– E Felony
- Tampering With Physical Evidence- E Felony
- Resisting Arrest- A Misdemeanor
- Obstruct Governmental Administration 2nd– A Misdemeanor
Hammonds is lodged at the City of Mount Vernon Police Department where he is awaiting arraignment.
State Police in Troop G make notable DWI arrests 4/4 -4/10
On April 5, 2025, at about 2:13 a.m. State Police of Saratoga stopped a vehicle on I-87 in Saratoga Springs, NY, for a Vehicle and Traffic Law violation. The driver was identified as Ryan J. Champagne, 30, Newark, NJ. Champagne was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. He was transported to SP Saratoga for processing, where he recorded a 0.19% BAC. Champagne was issued tickets returnable to the Saratoga Spring City Court on May 13, 2025, and released to a sober third party.
On April 5, 2025, at about 5:45 p.m., State Police assigned to the Northway Interstate Patrol stopped a vehicle on I-87 in Clifton Park, NY, for Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. The driver was identified as Courtney M. Freihofer, 45, of Ballston Spa, NY. Freihofer was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. She was transported to SP Saratoga for processing, where she recorded a 0.19% BAC. Freihofer was issued tickets returnable to the Clifton Park Town Court on April 16, 2025, and released to a sober third party.
On April 6, 2025, at about 5:25 a.m. State Police of Clifton Park responded to the area of State Route 146 in Clifton Park, NY, for the reports of a suspicious person. Troopers located an individual matching the caller’s description nearby attempting to change a flat tire on a vehicle. Further investigation discovered Walter E. Huba, 49, of Albany, NY, had allegedly driven to the location where he stopped to repair the flat tire. Huba was arrested for Driving While intoxicated and other Vehicle and Traffic Law violations. He was transported to SP Clifton Park for processing, where he recorded a 0.21% BAC. Huba was issued tickets returnable to the Clifton Park Town Court on May 7, 2025, and was then turned over to the Colonie Police Department for an unrelated active arrest warrant.
Arrest Made Following Shots Fired at Monticello Apartment Complex
On Thursday, April 10, 2025, at approximately 3:05 p.m., New York State Police in Sullivan County responded to 911 call reporting shots fired at the Evergreen Apartment Complex located on Evergreen Drive in the Village of Monticello.
One man charged with child porn, another with sex abuse of animal
On April 4, 2025, the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations at Binghamton with the assistance of the Troop C Computer Crimes and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Christopher A. Banks, age 37 of Nineveh, NY for the class “E” felony of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child. A search warrant was executed on April 4, 2025, at Banks’ residence. The investigation determined that C. Banks was found to be in possession of images consistent with child sexual exploitation.
During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that Mark G. Banks, age 38 of Nineveh, NY sexually abused a dairy cow while employed at a farm in the town of Colesville. M. Banks was charged with the misdemeanor of Sexual Misconduct.
Both C. Banks and M. Banks were issued appearance tickets to the Colesville Town Court on April 24, 2025.
State Police arrest Seward man for forcibly touching a child
On April 11, 2025, State Police arrested Joseph Hemmes, 39, of Seward, NY for Forcible Touching and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
On March 11, 2025, State Police received information eluding to a past sexual assault of a child. The investigation determined Hemmes allegedly forcibly and inappropriately touched a child under the age of 16 in the summer of 2024 at a residence in Seward, NY. Further investigation discovered Hemmes is a level 2 registered sexual offender due to a previous sexual assault conviction against children.
Hemmes was arrested and processed at SP Cobleskill. He was then transported to Schoharie County Correctional Facility to be held pending arraignment in the Schoharie County Centralized Part Court.
Child Exploitation Detail Leads to an Arrest of Haverstraw Man
The New York State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Westchester County District Attorney’s collaborated in an undercover operation targeting individuals involved in the online exploitation of children. The operation, which took place over several days, resulted in the identification and arrest of Moses Goldstein, 34, of Haverstraw, NY. A specialized task force comprising highly trained investigators and agents was deployed to gain access to online platforms frequently utilized where these crimes are often facilitated. By employing advanced cyber tactics, investigators successfully identified Goldstein seeking to exploit vulnerable children online and arrange in-person meetings with them.
Goldstein was charged with Rape 2nd, a class D felony, and arraigned in Greenburgh Town Court. He was remanded to Westchester County Jail with bail set at $10,000 cash, $20,000 secured bond, or $50,000 partially secured bond.
A thorough historical investigation will continue into the individual identified during the course of this operation.
NYSP Arrest Suspect in Interstate Identity Theft and Fraud Case
On April 8, 2025, members of the New York State Police in SP Lyons took custody of Frank Torres, age 65, of Bronx, NY, in connection with a multi-jurisdictional fraud investigation involving identity theft, grand larceny, and forgery. Torres was processed and remanded to the Wayne County Jail, pending arraignment in Wayne County Court.
The investigation began on July 24, 2024, when troopers responded to a report of fraudulent activity at Reliant Credit Union, located at 205 N. Main Street, Newark, NY. A male suspect had fraudulently withdrawn $4,500 from an account using falsified identification.
Subsequent investigation by SP Lyons Bureau of Criminal Investigation revealed Torres had also been involved in a similar attempted fraud at the Macedon Reliant Credit Union branch.
The case was presented to the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office and submitted to a grand jury.
On February 6, 2025, a warrant for Torres’s arrest was issued by the Wayne County Superior Court. Following coordination between NYSP and Troop NYC’s Community Task Force, Torres was located and detained by NYC Probation Officers. He was transferred into NYSP custody and transported to SP Lyons for processing.
Torres was charged with:
- Three Counts of Identity Theft 1st (D Felony)
- Grand Larceny 3rd (D Felony)
- Attempted Grand Larceny 3rd (D Felony)
- Attempted Grand Larceny 4th (E, Felony)
- Two counts of Falsifying Business Records 1st (E Felony)
- Two counts of Forgery 3rd (A Misdemeanor)
This investigation included cooperation from multiple agencies including the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and NYC Probation.
