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| L-R: Fuhrer, McConnell, Wheeler |
TOWN OF AVON- Livingston County Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty
reports the arrest of three Potter County residents on felony drug related charges
after a traffic stop. On August 19 Deputy Michael Phillips was assigned to the
Sheriff’s Office STOP DWI Unit when he stopped a vehicle on Lakeville Road
(State Route 15) for a violation of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.
The operator of the vehicle was identified as Justin B.
Fuhrer, age 32 from Genesee, PA. The Deputy Sheriff suspected Fuhrer was
operating under the influence of drugs and conducted a roadside DWAI
investigation which included the performance of standardized field sobriety
tests. At the conclusion of the roadside investigation Fuhrer was taken into
custody for DWAI Drugs.
Further investigation at the scene by Sheriff’s Deputies
revealed that Fuhrer and the passengers in the vehicle were allegedly found to
be in possession of crack cocaine as well as fifty-one bags of fentanyl.
Fuhrer was transported to the Sheriff’s Office Headquarters
in Geneseo where Deputy Connor Sanford, who is a Certified Drug Recognition
Expert (DRE), conducted a drug evaluation. According to a press release it was
the Deputy Sheriff’s expert opinion that Fuhrer was under the influence of
central nervous system stimulants and narcotics and that he could not operate a
vehicle in a safe manner. Fuhrer did provide a urine sample which will be sent
to the lab for analysis.
Fuhrer was arrested and charged with felony Driving While
Ability Impaired by Drugs and felony Driving While Ability Impaired by a
combination of drugs. The charges were felonies as Fuhrer had a previous DWI
related conviction on January 23, 2017. Fuhrer was also charged with felony
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (intent to
sell), two (2) counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the
7th Degree, and violations of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. A passenger in the
vehicle, 18-year-old Ethan J. Wheeler from Harrison Valley PA, was arrested and
charged with felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd
Degree (intent to sell) and two (2) counts of Criminal Possession of a
Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree. Another passenger in the vehicle, 27-year-old
Crystal M. McConnell from Harrison Valley PA, was arrested and charged with
felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (intent
to sell) and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th
Degree.
Sheriff’s Deputies also have obtained a warrant of arrest on
a fourth person related to the incident. Kerri R. Cobbs, 31, from Genesee PA,
is currently wanted for felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in
the 3rd Degree (intent to sell) and Criminal Possession of a Controlled
Substance in the 7th Degree. Fuhrer, Wheeler, and McConnell were turned over to
Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for processing and
pre-arraignment detention. The District Attorney’s Office was contacted in
regards to bail due to the felony level charges. It was recommended that each
be held on $1,500 cash bail or $3,000 bond.
Fuhrer, Wheeler, and McConnell were later arraigned at the
Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part (LC-CAP) at the Livingston
County Jail before Village of Dansville Judge Scott Kenney. The Judge did
remand all three to the custody of the Sheriff on the recommended bail of
$1,500 cash or $3,000 bond. Deputy Shawn Whitford assisted with the on-scene
investigation. “I commend the Deputy Sheriffs for a job extremely well done in
taking fifty-one bags of death off our streets,” stated Sheriff Dougherty. “We
will continue to be vigilant in our drug interdiction efforts and do our best
to protect our Livingston County communities.”
