Dutchess: Victim Sues Former FedEx Driver
One of two girls sexually assaulted by a delivery driver in Millbrook in 2021 filed a civil lawsuit this month against FedEx, Dutchess Parcel Service and her assailant, Joshua Ginyard, 33, who lives in the Town of Poughkeepsie.
Ginyard was arrested on charges he assaulted the girls in his FedEx van after parking in a secluded area and pleaded guilty to felony criminal sexual act and three charges of endangering the welfare of a child, according to Mid Hudson News. After receiving an 18-month sentence, he arrived at a state prison in October and was paroled on Jan. 3.
Albany: Lawmakers Propose New Power Authority
Two state lawmakers from Ulster County said this month they plan to introduce legislation to create a public utility called the Hudson Valley Power Authority that would replace Central Hudson.
Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha and Sen. Michelle Hinchey said public control would lead to lower rates, among other benefits. “There’s an inherent conflict between the profit motive and public interest that’s hurting ratepayers and utility workers alike,” Shrestha said in a statement.
Central Hudson disputed that, with a representative saying in a statement that “municipalization is not a solution” and noting that the utility “infuses significant resources into our communities, including more than $60 million annually through property taxes paid — money that is used to help fund police and fire departments and school districts.”
Kingston: Teenagers Rescued from Swings
The Kingston Fire Department rescued two teenagers who had become stuck on May 6 in hard plastic infant swings at Block Park, according to the Daily Freeman.
Firefighters said they worked for 15 minutes to remove the teens, who were treated at the scene by paramedics.
Kingston: Inmate Charged with False Allegations
An inmate at Ulster County Jail was arrested May 9 for allegedly making false allegations of excessive force against a member of the Sheriff’s Office, according to the Daily Freeman.
William Echols, 34, of Kingston, filed a complaint in October. After an investigation, the Sheriff’s Office said the allegations were untrue. Echols was charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors, including perjury.
Saugerties: Couple Fined $8 Million
A state court earlier this month ordered a couple to clean up three illegal dump sites and pay an $8 million fine.
The state sued Joseph and Rachel Karolys in 2020 for repeatedly accepting construction and demolition material from New York City at a dump site that was authorized only to take solid waste from Dutchess and Ulster counties. The Karolyses also operated the sites without water and pollution control permits.
Waste from urban areas is more likely to be contaminated with petroleum or hazardous substances, the state said. The fine will be used to fight air, land and water pollution in Ulster County. The state also sued 29 transporters for dumping more than 3,000 loads illegally at a Karolys site over three years.
