Kingston man’s drug sentence stands
KINGSTON, N.Y. >> A state appeals court on Thursday upheld the 18-year prison sentence for a Kingston man who sold cocaine to undercover agents on five occasions in 2012.
Tyrone Watson, 47, of Kingston, was sentenced by Ulster County Court Judge Donald A. Williams on Sept. 4, 2013, to the prison time and three years of post-release supervision after being convicted of five felony counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, six felony counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and one misdemeanor count of using drug paraphernalia.
Watson was arrested Oct. 26, 2012, after a two- month investigation by Kingston police and charged with selling cocaine on five occasions to an undercover officer.
He was arrested 20 times during his “lengthy criminal career,” Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright said in 2013. Watson has been convicted of three prior felonies, including possession of an illegal handgun, possession of cocaine with intent to sell and possessing in excess of 4 ounces of cocaine with a street value of more than $18,000.
On appeal, Watson argued he had been denied a fair trial because the court failed to locate and produce its confidential informant at the trial, denying him his right to confront a material witness.
In its ruling, the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court, Third Judicial Department, stated that unless the defendant could prove the confidential informant’s testimony was “likely to have been favorable to some degree in tending to exculpate” him, his objection would be denied. The decision said adequate efforts were made by the court to locate the informant.
The court also dismissed Watson’s objection to the introduction of his prior drug convictions into evidence.
Additionally, the appeals court concluded Watson’s sentence — “which fell within the permissible statutory parameters,” it said — was neither harsh nor excessive.
Watson, who was found guilty by an Ulster County Court jury, will not be eligible for parole until he is 59 years old.