Troopers Report: Bath Man Charged With 3rd Degree Arson

FROM NYSP:  On Thursday, February 6, 2025, at approximately 9:21 a.m., the New York State Police in Bath were dispatched by Steuben County 911 to 6649 State Route 415 in the town of Bath for a report of a residential structure fire.

Upon arrival, Troopers observed smoke coming from the left side of the single-story residence. It was confirmed that no individuals were inside at the time. Troopers immediately closed a portion of State Route 415 between Faucett Road and Telegraph Road to allow the Bath Volunteer Fire Department to extinguish the fire safely. A preliminary investigation indicated suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire.

On May 28, 2025, following a comprehensive fire investigation, Timothy S. DeWolf, 47, of Bath, NY, was charged with Arson 3rd (C Felony).

DeWolf was processed at SP Bath and transported to Steuben County Jail for CAP arraignment.

 

Hornell Man Found Guilty In Baby Shaking Case

Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker reports that Robert Taft, 26, Hornell, was found guilty yesterday, of two counts of Assault in the First Degree, two counts of Reckless Assault in the First Degree and two counts of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree.   Taft was accused of two baby shaking incidents, in October 2022.  "This was a difficult case for all of us, prosecutors, investigators and witnesses," D.A. Brooks Baker stated.  "We all know the victim will suffer for the rest of her life because of what the person who was supposed to protect and care for her did instead. There's nothing we can do to undo what he did or make her life better - all we could do was our best to get justice for her.  Today, the jury did that," Baker said.

Baker also says, the defendant was represented at trial by Sr. Assistant Public Defender Sujata Ramiah and Terrence Baxter.  The defendant is in Steuben County Jail without bail after the verdict by Justice Cook and will be sentenced on August 1.  

 

Early Voting Reminder From Steuben Co Board Of Elections

This reminder from the Steuben County Board of Elections: early voting for the June 24 primary, will only be held at the Steuben County Annex Building and not in Corning or Hornell.  Early voting begins on June 14. 

 

Palmesano To Honor Dundee Wrestling Champ

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) will join the Dundee Central School community to pay tribute to Peyton Mullin, who earlier this year at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Wrestling Championships at the MVP Arena in Albany won the 235-pound division championship. 

The victory at the state championships in February marked the sophomore’s second consecutive 235-pound title and capped an undefeated, 27-0 season.  Palmesano will visit the Dundee Junior-Senior High School on Friday, May 30, to join Mullin and her family, school administrators and staff, coaches, and teammates to present an official Legislative Resolution (J1068/K594) he sponsored together with State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) honoring Mullin’s championship.  The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. on the football field.

 

A Child Car Seat Safety Event To Be Held Tomorrow

A Proposed Cow Limit Rule From Albany

Two New York City based state lawmakers, want to pass a law so that farmers cannot have more than 700 cows on a farm.  From State Senator Tom O'Mara: "It's the latest in a longstanding tradition of ill-informed, misguided, outrageous, and ridiculous proposals coming out of a state government now dominated by one-party, New York City-based leaders and interests. It continues to show a complete lack of understanding and calls for government overreach that would have a devastating impact on our rural, upstate local economies where the dairy industry has long been and must remain a mainstay."  

From Assemblyman Phil Palmesano:  

“This is just another example of downstate one-party rule imposing overregulation on upstate communities, as if the devastating Farm Labor Act wasn’t enough. This will do nothing but cause more dairy farms to leave the state, many of which are family farms, resulting in a hit to our economy. I think sometimes my downstate colleagues forget where their food comes from. They need to remember that if there are no farms, then there is no food,” said Palmesano.