The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
FARLEY PLEADS GUILTY
Canastota man admits murdering Oneida city mom Tiffany Meeks
“I am satisfied that they are satisfied. Nothing can bring Tiffany back.”
— Madison County District Attorney William Gabor
WAMPSVILLE >> In court Monday Kevin Farley admitted killing Tiffany Meeks as he pleaded guilty to second- degree murder.
By changing his plea to guilty, Farley will not be tried for or convicted of first- de- gree murder, instead accepting a deal that carries a punishment of 24 years to life in prison. The maximum sentence for second- degree murder in New York is 25 years to life in prison, while the minimum is 20 years to life.
First- degree murder carries the same sentence without the
possibility of parole. There is no longer a death penalty in this state.
Madison County District Attorney William Gabor said the plea deal was “done after a lot of thought and discussion with the Meeks family,” adding that his office had been in regular contact with them.
Gabor said that while no resolution could take away the family’s pain, the Meekses are satisfied with the decision.
The Meeks’ victim advocate said the family would not make a statement Monday, but might at the June 9 sentencing scheduled by Madison County Judge Dennis McDermott.
“I am satisfied that they are satisfied,” the DA said, noting that “satisfied” seems inappropriate when dealing with a murder. “Nothing can bring Tiffany back.”
Gabor also spoke of the sentencing Farley faces in Onondaga County for the events following the murder in which he allegedly stole a car at knife-point and led police on a highspeed chase through Syracuse before he was finally apprehended. Gabor said Syracuse Judge John Brunetti promised Farley that punishments for the Madison County and Onondaga crimes could be served simultaneously, or in legal terms, concurrently.
Gabor said both he and Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick objected, but the decision is up to the judge.
By pleading to the lesser charge of second- degree murder, Farley will be eligible for parole in 24 years. One of the conditions of the deal is that Farley waive his right to appeal.
Farley, who remained impassive throughout most of Monday’s and prior hearings, broke down when questioned by McDermott. The judge asked him whether he was at Tiffany Meeks’ residence the night of the killing; he replied, “Yes sir, your honor.”
But when asked if he caused the death of Meeks, Farley showed his first outward signs of emotion, his voice quavering with tears running down his face.
“Yes, I wrapped a cord around her neck,” he said, in a barely audible voice in the vast courtroom.
Farley, 32, of Canastota, was arraigned Sept. 1 on a 14- count felony indictment with charges as follows:
• Two counts first- degree murder;
• One count second-degree murder;
• First-degree burglary;
• First- degree attempted rape;
• Two counts first- degree assault;
• Second- degree assault;
• Two counts first- degree strangulation;
• Two counts third- degree criminal possession of a weapon;
• Fourth- degree grand larceny and first- degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Following the September arraignment presided over by McDermott, police told reporters they believe Farley entered Meeks’ residence sometime the evening of Aug. 3, assaulted her, attempted to rape her, and then killed her. He then fled to Syracuse, where he is accused of hijacking a vehicle at knife point and led police on a high-speed chase through the city before crashing the stolen SUV into another car and f leeing on foot. He was caught shortly thereafter.
Oneida City Police were called to 213 N. Lake St. around 12:50 p.m. Aug. 4, after Susan Mott found her 32-year- old daughter dead in an upstairs bedroom. Police said her two children were not at home; they were with their father.