Latest news with #OntarioCountyDistrictAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Man faces 81 charges in Ontario County drug and firearm investigation
The Ontario County District Attorney's Office has filed an 81-count indictment related to a long-term, multi-agency firearms and narcotics investigation. Ronnie Boswell Jr., also known as "Spaz," faces multiple charges, including criminal sale of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees, conspiracy, and several drug-related offenses, such as criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. According to Ontario County District Attorney Jim Ritts, the charges involve crimes that allegedly occurred between Oct. 1, 2024, and Jan. 2, 2025. As part of the investigation, 14 firearms, 13 large-capacity magazines, and approximately 2,600 fentanyl pills were seized. The 81 charges originated from a narcotics investigation in Geneva, which began in August 2024 after tips from community members about suspected drug use, loitering, and other quality-of-life issues in the city's downtown. Geneva Police Chief Ronald Eveland said these tips led authorities to Boswell, expanding the investigation into a multi-agency effort. Through the investigation, 14 firearms were purchased and seized, including five assault weapons, along with 13 large-capacity feeding devices and about 2,600 fentanyl pills. The operation involved several agencies, including the Ontario County District Attorney's Office, ATF, Geneva Police Department, New York State Police, Ontario County Sheriff's Department, and the Seneca County Sheriff's Department, Ritts confirmed at a press conference on Thursday. Ritts also stated that Boswell was arrested on Jan. 2, 2025, following a buy-bust operation. On the day of the bust, Boswell allegedly sold 200 fentanyl pills, a semi-automatic rifle, large-capacity ammunition magazines, and ammunition. The buy money was recovered when Boswell was taken into custody. Ontario County Sheriff David Cirencione noted that Boswell was allegedly operating out of Rochester but was attempting to sell these firearms to individuals he believed were based in Ontario County. Cirencione added that authorities are continuing to investigate the origins of the weapons and whether they were involved in any prior crimes. 'The fact is, he was able to obtain these weapons easily and was proactively reaching out to the officers working this case, looking to sell guns almost daily,' Cirencione said. The indictment reveals that Boswell had a prior conviction for attempted criminal possession of a weapon in December 2016 in Monroe County. Ritts said that given his prior felony convictions, Boswell could face a sentence of 25 years to life. Boswell is currently being held at the Ontario County Jail awaiting arraignment. — Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who edited our Weld Street Project and also did reporting for it. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Ronnie Boswell faces 81 charges in Ontario County drug investigation
NBC News
15-03-2025
- NBC News
Law enforcement was called 8 times to the hotel where Sam Nordquist was held captive and killed, records show
Law enforcement officers were called to the hotel where authorities say Sam Nordquist was tortured to death at least eight times throughout his captivity, sheriff's office call records obtained by NBC News show. Deputies from the Ontario County Sheriff's Office went to Patty's Lodge in Canandaigua, New York, in January to perform two welfare checks at the hotel, respond to three instances of 'family trouble,' address a 'neighbor dispute,' complete a probation check and issue a warrant for an unnamed individual's arrest, according to the call records. However, none of those calls specifically referenced Room 22, where Nordquist, 24, was allegedly held captive from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2., Ontario County Sheriff David J. Cirencione told NBC News shortly after this story was published. Nordquist was beaten, sexually assaulted and starved by seven people in Room 22 before he died from his injuries, prosecutors said last week. The call records do not indicate which rooms authorities visited, and it's unclear whether anyone heard anything. But anyone on the property would be within several dozen feet of Room 22; the hotel is on a small lot of land with about two dozen rooms grouped by four one-story buildings. Patty's Lodge could not immediately be reached for comment. In recent weeks, the gruesome killing of the 24-year-old transgender Black man has garnered national attention and prompted outrage from LGBTQ advocates across the country. Prosecutors have said there appears to be no indication that witnesses heard any of the abuse in Room 22, though it went on for weeks and involved multiple people. No one reported any suspicious activity at the hotel, officials said. The Ontario County District Attorney's Office did not immediately return a request for comment regarding the call logs. Nordquist's family, who live in Oakdale, Minnesota, requested a wellness check to Room 22 while Nordquist was still alive in October. New York State Police Troop E confirmed that they completed the wellness check, adding that 'Sam told the Trooper he was fine and did not need any medical or law enforcement help.' The family again requested a welfare check to Patty's Lodge on Feb. 9 and reported him missing to their local Oakdale police on Feb. 10, the family said. His body was found three days later in a field not far from Patty's Lodge, wrapped in plastic bags, prosecutors said last week. Prosecutors detailed last week that seven people — including Nordquist's girlfriend — are accused of kicking, punching, starving and sexually assaulting him, and forcing him to consume feces, urine and tobacco juice. Two young children were also coerced to join in, according to the indictment. The seven were arrested and charged with first-degree murder and face life in prison without parole if convicted. On Tuesday, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
NBC News
14-03-2025
- NBC News
Police were called 8 times to the hotel where Sam Nordquist was held captive and killed, records show
Law enforcement officers were called to the hotel where authorities say Sam Nordquist was tortured to death at least eight times throughout his captivity, sheriff's office call records obtained by NBC News show. Deputies from the Ontario County Sheriff's Office went to Patty's Lodge in Canandaigua, New York, in January to perform two welfare checks at the hotel, respond to three instances of 'family trouble,' address a 'neighbor dispute,' complete a probation check and issue a warrant for an unnamed individual's arrest, according to the call records. It's not clear if the authorities were ever directed to Room 22, where they say Nordquist, 24, was held captive from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2. There, he was beaten, sexually assaulted and starved by seven people before he died from his injuries, prosecutors said last week. The call records do not indicate which rooms authorities visited, and it's unclear whether anyone heard anything. But anyone on the property would be within several dozen feet of Room 22; the hotel is on a small lot of land with about two dozen rooms grouped by four one-story buildings. The Ontario County Sheriff's Office declined to comment and referred NBC News to its public records office. Patty's Lodge could not immediately be reached for comment. In recent weeks, the gruesome killing of the 24-year-old transgender Black man has garnered national attention and prompted outrage from LGBTQ advocates across the country. Prosecutors have said there appears to be no indication that witnesses heard any of the abuse in Room 22, though it went on for weeks and involved multiple people. No one reported any suspicious activity at the hotel, officials said. The Ontario County District Attorney's Office did not immediately return a request for comment regarding the call logs. Nordquist's family, who live in Oakdale, Minnesota, requested a wellness check to Room 22 while Nordquist was still alive in October. New York State Police Troop E confirmed that they completed the wellness check, adding that 'Sam told the Trooper he was fine and did not need any medical or law enforcement help.' The family again requested a welfare check to Patty's Lodge on Feb. 9 and reported him missing to their local Oakdale police on Feb. 10, the family said. His body was found three days later in a field not far from Patty's Lodge, wrapped in plastic bags, prosecutors said last week. Prosecutors detailed last week that seven people — including Nordquist's girlfriend — are accused of kicking, punching, starving and sexually assaulting him, and forcing him to consume feces, urine and tobacco juice. Two young children were also coerced to join in, according to the indictment. The seven were arrested and charged with first-degree murder and face life in prison without parole if convicted. On Tuesday, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
Victor teacher accused of raping minor
A Victor high school teacher has been charged with rape following a joint investigation by the Ontario County Sheriff's Office, Ontario County District Attorney's Office and Ontario County Child Protective Services, according to authorities. David Porter, 66, is alleged to have engaged in sexual intercourse with a person less than seventeen years old in December 2024, according to police. Authorities said the victim is a student, but not a current student of Porter and that there is no evidence the incident occurred on school property. According to police, once the district was notified of the investigation, Porter was placed on immediate leave and the district had its legal counsel seek interim and immediate suspension of his teaching certificate. 'These circumstances are distressing. The safety and well-being of our school community is of the highest importance. Additional support and resources will be available on Monday for students and staff," Superintendent Timothy Terranova said. "If you or your child are in need of immediate support, please contact your child's principal. The school will send out information as law enforcement allows." Porter was arraigned in Ontario County on Saturday and was released on his own recognizance, according to police. An order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim. Porter is expected to appear back in Victor Town Court on Tuesday, March 4. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information or knows of any similar incidents involving Porter is urged to contact Investigator Dylan LaBrake at (585) 394-4560. — Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who edited our Weld Street Project and also did reporting for it. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Victor NY teacher David Porter accused of raping minor
USA Today
19-02-2025
- USA Today
Vigil held for N.Y. transgender man tortured, killed in Finger Lakes region
Over 100 people gathered at the Wood Library in Canandaigua, New York, to mourn and honor the life of Sam Nordquist. Five suspects, identified as Precious Arzuaga, Jennifer Quijano, Kyle Sage, Patrick Goodwin, and Emily Motyka, have been charged with second-degree murder and are being held without bail. While the investigation is ongoing, authorities have stated that there is currently no evidence to suggest that Nordquist's death was a hate crime. Shock, sadness and anger flooded a back room inside the Wood Library in Canandaigua, New York, Monday for the Trans Resilience Community's event honoring 24-year-old Sam Nordquist, who police say was subjected to repeated acts of violence and torture leading to his death. A photo of Nordquist wearing a red cap and gown was placed in the front of the room, surrounded by candles and pink, blue and white flowers, representing the colors of the transgender flag. A sign with the words "Unite and Fight for Queer & Trans Liberation" in big green letters hung along the side of the room. The room was silent but for the sounds of sniffling and weeping before the program began. Over a hundred people gathered inside the library and even more tuned in via Zoom. Nordquist's family sat in the front row. His sister, Kayla Nordquist, clutched a flyer with a picture of her brother, hugging it close to her chest. The Ontario County District Attorney's Office and New York State Police said in a joint statement that Nordquist's death investigation is in the early stages but that they don't have any indications his death was motivated by hate. Sam and the five arrested "were known to each other, identified as LGBTQ+, and at least one of the defendants lived with Sam in the time period leading up to the instant offense." Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. GLAAD, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, applauded law enforcement's "swift" actions in investigating Nordquist's death but cautioned them on ruling out hate crime charges because of that claim. The organization pointed to transgender and gender non-conforming people being at increased risk of intimate partner violence. 'We don't just long for that justice, we demand it.' The event was hosted by the Family Counseling Service of the Finger Lakes. Vice President of Operations Ashley Lewis said the purpose of the event was to create a safe space for the community to come together and mourn and honor Nordquist. "We know that the LGBTQ+ community is historically marginalized and faces violence in a much higher rate than outside of the community," Lewis said. "So those of us that are not part of that target group have a moral obligation to show up and use our voice and create these places of safety so that people are able to connect during such a tragic time." One by one, members of the community took turns standing in the front of the room to speak. Many of them, speaking through their tears, are part of the LGBTQ+ community. "We don't just long for that justice, we demand it," Mitchel Acacian said to the group. Acacian spoke of what he called the elephant in the room — the enormity of horror and tragedy the LGBTQ+ community consistently faces, he said. "But may our remembrance of Sam and all we lose to violence not ever be in vain or in vanity, but may we renew our commitment to seeking intersectional justice while resisting whiteness centering itself," Acacian said. "We must all use whatever privilege we have to offer care, solidarity, defense and protection to our black siblings and all who are marginalized based on human prejudices and ignorance." Each speaker at the night's event stepped down from the podium to hug Nordquist's family. The night ended with a group of people releasing red balloons in the parking lot of Wood Library in Nordquist's honor. The group consoled and embraced each other as the balloons flew away into the night sky. A safer Pride:LGBTQ+ communities, allies around US taking steps to promote safety at Pride 2024 events Nordquist found dead, five charged with murder According to Nordquist's family, he met a woman online in July and bought a round-trip plane ticket to Canandaigua from his home in Minnesota in September to meet her. His family told the Democrat & Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, that he was supposed to fly back to Minnesota in October but never got on the plane. His family reported him missing on Feb. 9 after they could not reach him and it appeared that his phone was off, which they said was out of character for him. New York State Police detectives found Nordquist's remains on Feb. 13 and announced two days later that Precious Arzuaga, 38; Jennifer Quijano, 30; Kyle Sage, 33; Patrick Goodwin, 30; and Emily Motyka, 19, were arrested in connection with Nordquist's death. They were charged with second-degree murder and are jailed without bond, according to Ontario County District Attorney James Ritts. Witness statements and evidence collected by investigators and multiple law enforcement agencies determined that between December 2024 and February, Nordquist was "subjected to repeated acts of violence and torture in a manner that ultimately led to his death," according to NYSP Capt. Kelly Swift. His body was transported in an attempt to conceal the crime, Swift said, and was found in a field in Benton, New York. Thousands have signed a petition, urging authorities to charge the five with a hate crime. "It was a hateful act, regardless if it wasn't a hate-specific crime," said President and CEO of the Family Counseling Service of the Finger Lakes Barbara Pierce-Morrow. Authorities oft criticized for lack of hate crime charges for LGBTQ+ victims Advocates and loved ones have long criticized law enforcement and prosecutors for not adding hate crime charges to murders of LGBTQ+ people. In June 2024, Pauly A. Likens Jr.'s remains were found near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border in the Shenango River Lake area in Pennsylvania. Likens, a 14-year-old transgender girl, had met DaShawn Watkins, 29, on the LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr. Watkins was charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence. Activists and Mercer County residents called for hate crime charges, but Mercer County District Attorney Peter Acker declined, stating Watkins is openly gay and Likens was transitioning. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called for hate-based crimes against LGBTQ+ people to be treated the same way as other hate crimes. The history of attacks and a growing number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills across the nation forced many Pride organizers to either scale back or add security to their events in June. 'The attitude continues to be that we will not let bigots drive us in to the shadows,' said Dara Adkison, executive director of TransOhio in Columbus. 'We support each other visibly and proudly, this month and every other.' Contributing: Mike Murphy, Democrat and Chronicle; Ed Palattella, Erie-Times News; Jose Gonzalez, Arizona Republic; Marc Ramirez, Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY. Madison Scott can be reached at MDScott@
