CINCINNATUS, NY — Four people were arrested on multiple weapons charges following an incident at a residence on Dutch Hill Road.
Officers from the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence on May 10 at approximately 6:45 p.m. to serve court paperwork to Lenwill F. Bermester Jr., 74, of Cincinnatus.
Upon receipt and review of the paperwork, Bermester became agitated and physically struck an officer in the presence of a juvenile, according to the sheriff’s office.
At the time, the officer was attempting to retrieve numerous weapons from the residence where Bermester was hiding them in an attempt to prevent officers from confiscating them.
Investigators determined that Bermester had unlawfully given the weapons to three other defendants due to knowing he was unable to possess any firearms.
The weapons were unsafely stored and unsecured in a residence where two of the recipients were also unable to possess firearms.
Bermester was arrested May 18 at 6:20 p.m. and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, 29 counts of failure to safely store rifles, shotguns and firearms, 29 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, 29 counts of criminal contempt in the second degree, harassment in the second degree, obstructing governmental administration and 29 counts of private sale/disposal of rifles, shotguns and firearms.
Neal B. Wood II, 43, of Cincinnatus, was arrested May 16 at 6:30 p.m. and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, 29 counts of failure to safely store rifles, shotguns and firearms, 36 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and 29 counts of criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon.
Mandi K. Mentiply, 40, of Cincinnatus, was arrested May 16 at 6:30 p.m. and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, 29 counts of failure to safely store rifles, shotguns and firearms, 29 counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and 29 counts of criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon.
Gareth R. Jehu, 30, of Cincinnatus, was arrested May 16 at 6:30 p.m. and charged with endangering the welfare of a child and 29 counts of failure to safely store rifles, shotguns and firearms.
All four defendants were processed at the Public Safety Building and arraigned through the Centralized Arraignment Process.
All were released on their own recognizance and are scheduled to appear in Town of Cincinnatus Court on June 17 at 7:00 p.m.
