WVIN News

Top Stories, May 23, 2023

Four Suspects Charged In Bath Home Invasion

Bath Village Police Chief Colin Taft reports that four suspects are accused of committing a home invasion in Bath, and stealing a vehicle, money, and some unnamed pieces of property too.  Police Chief Colin Taft says the one of the four suspects reportedly tried to hit the victim with a crowbar, during the home invasion.  The victim is said to have had multiple injuries. 

The chief also says, there is video evidence in this case, which has led to, suspects being identified.  Three of the suspects are: Adam Greenberg, Matthew Bailey, Jessie Acosta, all are Bath residents.  The chief says there is another suspect, who has not been named yet. 

Adam Greenberg, Matthew Bailey and Jessie Acosta are all charged with 2nd degree assault.  Jessie Acosta is also charged with 4th degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and 1st degree promoting prison contraband.  Greenberg was ticketed and released on Monday, as of this posting (11:02am) Bailey and Acosta, are still in Steuben County Jail.  The police chief in Bath also says, this was an isolated incident. 

 

Statement On Migrants From Co Manager Jack Wheeler
With multiple New York counties issuing states of emergency in anticipation of an asylum seeker/migrant crisis, Steuben County officials want to offer an update on actions taken to
proactively address this situation.  To date, Steuben County has not issued a declaration of state of emergency for some very
important reasons. First, county officials are engaging with state agencies, such as the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), and others stakeholders on nearly a daily basis. Under NYS OTDA regulations, for a county or the City of New York to place individuals in temporary housing outside of their jurisdiction, they
must notify the receiving county prior. Steuben County has received no indication that asylum seekers/migrants have been or will be placed in the county in the near future.  Further, NYS law requires specific thresholds for an emergency to be declared, including the presence of ‘an immediate danger’. As Steuben County has not received any indication that
there is a planned influx of asylum seekers/migrants, a state of emergency is improper at this time. In addition, local states of emergency and emergency orders have a maximum time limit
of 30 days. If Steuben were to declare an emergency too early, it could lose the ability to implement provisions for response if circumstances required this at a later time.  This issue is a top priority for Steuben County officials, and the situation monitored continuously. The county lacks the infrastructure to support a large influx of a temporary homeless population. Should a situation arise where such an influx was planned, the county will take the necessary steps, including issuance of a state of emergency.

 

Campbell Man Is Accused Of Violating A Protection Order

Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard reports that on May 22, 2023, deputies of the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office arrested Gage P. Heffner, age 29, of SR 415, Campbell, New York, following a report of a violation of an order of protection in the Town of Bath.  It is alleged that Mr. Heffner repeatedly contacted the protected person, a member of his family or household, listed in a stay away order of protection duly served on Mr. Heffner .  It is also alleged that Mr. Heffner had a prior conviction of Criminal Contempt in the past five years.  Mr. Heffner is charged with Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, and Aggravated Family Offense, both class E Felonies.  Mr. Heffner was arraigned in the Centralized Arraignment Court and remanded to the jail.

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