AVON — Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of two Steuben County residents on felony drug charges following an investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 4, at approximately 8:02 p.m., Livingston County Sheriff’s Deputy Caleb Nellis was assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Highway Patrol Unit when he conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 390 in the Town of Avon after observing a violation of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Contact was made with the operator of the vehicle, who was identified as 27-year-old Janelle Hopkins of Bath, and a passenger who was identified as 34-year-old Douglas Raker of Corning.
The Deputy suspected that there was drug activity in the vehicle and conducted a drug investigation.
As a result of the investigation, Hopkins and Raker were found to be in possession of crack cocaine, and the pair had also attempted to conceal the drugs during the course of the traffic stop.
Hopkins was arrested and charged with felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, felony Tampering with Physical Evidence and violations of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Raker was arrested and charged with felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree and felony Tampering with Physical Evidence.
Hopkins and Raker were transported and turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for processing and pre-arraignment detention.
Both were later arraigned at the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part at the Livingston County Jail before the Town of Leicester Justice Scofield.
The District Attorney’s Office recommended that Raker be held on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond due to currently being under the supervision of Probation in Steuben County.
The Judge remanded Raker to the custody of the Sheriff on the recommended bail.
Hopkins was released on her own recognizance, as the offenses she was charged with do not qualify for bail under the NYS Bail Reform Act.
The Livingston County Public Defender’s Office was present and represented Hopkins and Raker at the court arraignments for their defense.
The Livingston County District Attorney’s Office also appeared to represent the People.
Assisting on the scene were Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Page and the Geneseo Police Department.
