Quoted from Rene

I would hate to even guess......I 1/2 way take back my remark about the Mohawk.  She is 8 months pregnant and the baby sure doesn't deserve that.
I'd like to know what the hell they were doing in a Cadillac.  

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ROTTERDAM
Elderly express shock about attack Residents considering extra precautions
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

   Like many of Rotterdam’s elderly citizens, Amelia Lake was shocked to hear of a vicious attack on a woman her age.
   The 88-year-old Lake could hardly fathom a woman her age falling victim to a brutal robbery such as the one outside the Victoria Court Apartments off Fort Hunter Road Saturday evening. In fact, she couldn’t recall any similar crime in her more than 50 years of living in town.
   “We’ve always had a wonderful town,” she said at the Rotterdam Senior Center Monday afternoon. “We’ve never had anything like this.”
   Many of the older residents expressed disbelief at the attack, which left an 88-year-old woman bloody and battered in the building’s parking lot, just steps away from her front door. The Monday afternoon bingo game at the senior center was abuzz with discussion about the attack and what could have been done to avoid it.
   Schenectady residents Dominique Lucas and Tiffany Tolliver, both 21, are accused of watching the woman as she shopped at the Crosstown Plaza, and then followiong her and assaulting her from behind when she returned to her apartment building 4 miles away. Police said the women also threw bleach in the woman’s face before fleeing with her purse.
   “I got scared,” remarked Ann Farone, 98, who has lived in town since 1929. “I was thinking ‘Oh, my God. I’m shopping in that mall all the time.’ ”
   Seniors are now considering extra precautions. Some said the incident convinced them they should travel in pairs, while others said they plan to start carrying their money and credit cards in smaller, less visible wallets or purses. Some said they will simply trust people less.
   “Right now, we’re going to suspect anybody,” Lake said. “This could happen to anybody.”
   Rotterdam police Lt. Michael Brown said the department’s community service unit was scheduled in advance to meet with the elderly at the senior center at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to talk about safety. In the wake of Saturday’s attack, he anticipates self-defense being a primary topic — “what they can do to avoid being a victim in cases like this.”
   The incident also caught the attention of state legislators on Monday. Sen. Hugh T. Farley, RNiskayuna, called on the state Assembly to pass “Granny’s Law,” a piece of legislation proposed in March that would classify an assault on an elderly person as a violent felony punishable by up to seven years in prison.
   “Whether it’s upgrading an assault charge from a misdemeanor to a violent felony, or it’s adding an additional violent felony count to felony robbery charges, this legislation would give prosecutors a helpful tool in their arsenal against criminals,” he said in a prepared statement.
   Meanwhile, Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney said the investigation into the case continues and more charges are anticipated. He is expected to present the case to a grand jury this week.
   “We’ll have action on it quickly,” he said.
   Officials from Schenectady City Court said Lucas, who is eight months pregnant, had a warrant pending for her arrest stemming from a criminal mischief charge over the summer. Tolliver, the mother of two young children, had a bench warrant issued in August, stemming from a felony third-degree robbery case in May, city police confirmed. Both were ordered held in the
Schenectady County Jail.  

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The incident also caught the attention of state legislators on Monday. Sen. Hugh T. Farley, RNiskayuna, called on the state Assembly to pass “Granny’s Law,” a piece of legislation proposed in March that would classify an assault on an elderly person as a violent felony punishable by up to seven years in prison.

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Heading back to jail, Tiffany Tolliver suggested her being a wife and mother will help her defense.

"I'm a mother and I have five beautiful kids," she said. "I have nothing to worry about."

Tolliver is 21 years old. So is Dominique Lucas.

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"I don't have nothing to say on that," said Tolliver. "A person who has a good life like that, would they mess it up? You tell me."Police said the robbery charge is the second against Tolliver since May. That complaint states she was arrested in part because of the statement attached to the complaint -- but the statement wasn't attached.

The defense attorney asked the judge to have the Rotterdam Police Department hand over the statements and agreed the defense is entitled to those statements, whatever they may be.

Quoted from senders

He is looking ahead....to his next election......talk about smoke.....well, Mr.Hugh T. Farley- first let me say 'Happy 9/11', if that is what we are supposed to say....if Rotterdam had been keeping up/kept up with the times and the pandering stopped and good planning done,,, maybe it wouldn't be a 'cheap-flop town' with a bunch of discount/dollar/thrift stores.......

Granny's Law---how demeaning---I work in a nursing home,,,,,where is Granny's Law there?? He must think taking anti-depressants so folks 'like' their environment isn't an assault.....I dont know if it is either but,,,,, it is a lie......

So...do we want to pay for sewers/infrastructure?...do we want to pay for nursing homes?.....do we want to pay for bigger jails?...hhhhmmmm...decisions decisions decisions......

but, he needs to stop blowing smoke.....we are shocked in Rotterdam but as the news shows it happens all the time around the country and world.....see no one takes on the sex offender issue in a rational way why??----society cant draw the line

I think we should introduce him to Mr.Kosiur and Ms.Savage.......BTW--how old is Mr.Farley???

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Lucas was arrested in April and charged with felony counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. She was arrested on similar charges in March 2006, when she was pulled over by police in a vehicle reported stolen out of Saratoga County, and which had six small envelopes containing heroin.

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Probation officer, teacher face drug charges
3 arrested in incident on Putnam Street in city
BY TATIANA ZARNOWSKI Gazette Reporter

   A Schenectady County probation officer, a math teacher at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and a Greenfield man are facing drug charges after their early morning arrests in Saratoga Springs over the weekend.
   Stephen A. Farina III, 30, of 1242 Viewpoint Drive, Niskayuna, was fired from his job as a probation officer after being charged with a single felony count each of possessing a narcotic drug and possessing a narcotic drug with intent to deliver on Putnam Street just after 3 a.m. Saturday.
   He was a probation officer for less than a year, according to Schenectady County Attorney Chris Garner.
   Saratoga Springs police said Farina was found with 4.9 grams of white powder that tested positive for cocaine and a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette.
   He also allegedly resisted arrest Saturday on Lena Lane, struggling with police as they tried to handcuff him. He faces a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest and a violation count of unlawful possession of marijuana.
   He was released on bail, set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.
   Farina appeared in City Court on Tuesday and is next scheduled to appear Sept. 18.
   Police said with Farina when he was arrested was Bret C. Weise, 32, of 1904 Baker Ave., Niskayuna, who was charged with a single misdemeanor count of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police said he had cocaine on him.
   Weise taught math at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School starting in 1998, said district spokeswoman Christy Multer.
   He resigned from his job this week, Superintendent Jim Schultz said Thursday in a statement.
   “I am disappointed that one of our heretofore valued professionals is involved in a situation like this in another city, particularly when we have an expectation of zero tolerance regarding illegal substances on our campus,” Schultz said in the statement. “We have been pleased with our association with Mr. Weise over the past nine years, and we wish him well in his new endeavors.”
   Weise was released on $500 cash bail or $1,000 bond and appeared in court Thursday. His next appearance is scheduled for Sept. 20.
   Schultz said a substitute or retired teacher likely will pitch in until the district hires a permanent replacement for Weise.
   The third man charged in connection with the Saturday incident was Robert P. Faith, 22, of 46 Wil- ton Road, Greenfield Center. He was charged with a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of marijuana and posted $500 bail.
   Police said he was holding a burning hand-rolled marijuana cigarette on Putnam Street.  

Quoted from bumblethru

I'm gonna get hammered for this statement....but I am against this so called 'granny law'. Don't get me wrong here....I think it is deplorable and disqusting when I hear of such offenses. But the LAW IS THE LAW. Even though an offense may seem more deplorable when inflicted on certain members of society than others clearly does not make it any more deplorable to the extent of making the punishment more severe.

We are beginning to pick and choose who's life is more important in society. Who is more important when a crime is committed? I do believe that our most vulnerable in society need protecting. And that is the key here...PROTECTING! Not increased punishment or new laws. These girls had HOW MANY 'REPEAT OFFENSES'? Is this elderly person's offense worse than if it had happened to a 20, 30, 40, 50 year olds?

ALL citizens need protection under the law!! Let's not segregate our society. Let's uphold the laws or re-write new ones for ALL and enforce stronger penalties that will guarentee that the bottom feeders will be kept out of our society for a long long time!!!!!!

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ROTTERDAM
$50,000 bail for suspects in savage beating
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.

   Bail of $50,000 each has been set for two Schenectady women accused of savagely beating and robbing an 88-year-old woman before going on a shopping spree with her credit cards.
   Dominique Lucas and Tiffany Tolliver, both 21, were ordered held in Schenectady County Jail in lieu of bail following their bail hearing Monday in Rotterdam Town Court. Each was charged with one count of felony first-degree robbery on Saturday and remained in jail Tuesday evening.
   Investigators said Lucas and Tolliver watched the woman while she shopped at the Ocean State Job Lot in Crosstown Plaza Saturday evening, then tracked her back to Victoria Court Apartments off Fort Hunter Road, where they jumped her from behind. They punched the elderly woman numerous times in the face and threw a cup of bleach in her eyes before making off with her purse, police said.
   Police said Tolliver’s 2-weekold child was in the car during the attack and her 17-month-old child was left alone in her Albany Street residence. Lucas is eight months pregnant, according to police.
   Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney said a grand jury will review the case this week in consideration of further charges. He said the women picked the elderly woman because they thought she’d be an easy target.
   “They were looking for someone they thought would be easy to prey upon,” he said.
   Steven Kouray, Tolliver’s assigned counsel through the county Conflict Defender’s Offi ce, said his client wasn’t interested in commenting publicly.
   “Absolutely no way,” he said.
   Kouray said he advised his client against speaking to the media following her bail hearing Monday evening. But while being led away from the court, Tolliver claimed that she had no reason to commit the attack.
   “I’m a mother, and I have fi ve beautiful kids,” she told CBS 6, the Gazette’s news-gathering partner. “I have nothing to worry about.”
   Lucas’ attorney, public defender Sven Paul, did not return calls for comment Tuesday.
   Both women are facing other charges in Schenectady. Lucas has a pending warrant for a criminal mischief charge lodged over the summer, city court officials said.
   Tolliver has a warrant for her arrest stemming from a felony robbery charge in May. She is accused of taking her landlord’s purse and removing $300 from it during an argument at her Albany Street residence, according to court documents.