Judge sentences Schenectady man to 40 years for sexual abuse of girl

SCHENECTADY — A city man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for sodomizing an 11-year-old girl, according to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office.

The sentence Monday comes after a jury in January found William Lindley, 33, guilty of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act and one count of first-degree sexual abuse.

Jurors convicted Lindley of fondling and subjecting the girl to anal and oral sexual contact in a city home on one day in June 2020.

The penalty imposed by Visiting Schenectady Count Judge Felix Catena also calls for 20 years of post-release supervision and for the defendant to register as a sex offender once he is released from prison. Additionally, the judge issued a full order stay away order of protection that bans Lindley from having any contact with the victim for 48 years.

Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney said in a news release “this is not Mr. Lindley’s first violent felony conviction, nor is it his first crime perpetrated against a child.”

“The substantial sentence imposed by Judge Catena of 40 years reflects both that history and the severity of harm he caused to this child,” added Carney.

He mentions that Lindley never showed any remorse for his crime and made himself out to be a victim of the #Metoo Movement, overzealous prosecution, ineffective counsel and an incomplete, shoddy police probe. The case was prosecuted by Special Victim’s Bureau Chief John Carson.

Lindley was represented by attorney Carl Birman. — Paul Nelson

Trio arrested on I-87 for allegedly having cocaine, cash

HALFMOON — A trio allegedly possessing large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl pills were arrested on early Sunday morning during a traffic stop on I-87, the Saratoga County Sheriff ’s Office said.

A 48-year-old man from New York City, a 46-year-old man from Fort Edward and a 33-year-old woman from Ballston Spa were arrested after an investigation and search warrants were issued.

Deputies say they were allegedly in possession of 465 grams, or 16 ounces, of cocaine and 16 grams of fentanyl pills. Deputies also seized cash.

Sheriff ’s deputies say that the three were under investigation into drug trafficking in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties. Special operations from Warren and Washington counties assisted in the arrest.

They were each charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony. The New York City man faces a third count of possession.

The trio were arraigned in Halfmoon and then sent to Saratoga County Jail.