Feb. 15, 2019
Utica man arrested on rape charges following a yearlong investigation
Major Philip T. Rougeux of the New York State Police with the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, announce the arrest of 46-year-old Roger C. Herne of Utica for second-degree rape, a class D felony; and third-degree rape, a class E felony.
Following an extensive investigation, Herne is accused of having sexual intercourse with a female under the age of 17 and who is developmentally disabled. As a result of the allegation, the victim gave birth to a child.
This incident is alleged to have occurred in March 2017 in the city of Utica.
An arrest warrant was issued by Oneida County Court Feb. 14, 2019. Herne was then taken into custody by members from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Warrants Unit, Utica Police Department and United States Marshals – New York-New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Herne was transported to the Oneida County Court and remanded to the Oneida County Jail on $50,000 cash or bond. The victim was offered services through the CAC; an order of protection was requested for the victim.
The CAC is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary team that fights child abuse by providing a wide range of services for child victims, while also aggressively pursuing the offenders of these crimes.
Feb. 27, 2019
UPDATE: State police seek public assistance with identifying two individuals in surveillance photos
UPDATED INFORMATION:
On Feb. 27, 2019, Joshua A. Murdock, 35, of Watertown, turned himself in at the SP Carthage barracks and was charged with petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor. He was issued an appearance ticket returnable in Denmark Town Court at 6 p.m. March 6, 2019.
ORIGINAL INFORMATION:
State police in Carthage are investigating a larceny that occurred Jan. 10, 2019, at Farney’s Home and Building Center on State Route 26 in Denmark. Troopers are asking for public assistance in identifying both individuals in the surveillance photo above.
If anyone can identify either individual in the store security photos, they are asked to contact State Police at 315.366.6000. All information will be kept confidential.
March 6, 2019
Oswego County couple arrested on assault charges
On March 6, 2019, state police in Pulaski arrested Devon M. Buckner, 23, and Sarah A. Diamond, 28, of 27 Marsden Road, Mexico, for second-degree assault, a class D felony; and endangering the welfare of a child, a class A misdemeanor.
In October 2018, state police was notified by an Oswego County School District of possible child abuse of a 4-year-old pre-kindergarten student.
Following a four-month investigation, Buckner and Diamond are accused of causing physical injury and ongoing maltreatment to the child, which included withholding food and resulting in severe starvation.
The child is now in the custody of foster care.
Buckner and Diamond were arraigned in Richland Town Court and were remanded to the Oswego County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond.
March 6, 2019
Baldwinsville man arrested on child pornography charges
State police in Lysander announce the arrest of Damien L. Merkel, 20, of Baldwinsville, for first-degree disseminating indecent material to a minor and possessing a sexual performance by a child, both felonies.
Merkel is accused of exchanging nude and sexually explicit photographs with a 12-year-old female. Merkel was transported to the Onondaga County Justice Center to await centralized arraignment.