15-year-old charged with murder in Saugerties, pleads not guilty (original) (raw)
SAUGERTIES, N.Y. — A 15-year-old Saugerties male has been charged with murder for the killing of a woman on Sunday, June 7.
Saugerties police said in an announcement on Monday that the 15-year-old was arrested on Sunday, June 7, and charged with killing an adult female in the West Camp hamlet of Saugerties. Saugerties police said they were notified of the homicide just after 1 p.m. Police declined to release the name of the 15-year-old or the victim.
He pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder on Monday in Ulster County Court Youth Part.
The slightly built teen with light brown hair showed no emotion as he was led into and out of the courtroom.
The Freeman was present when Public Defender Joey Drillings entered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf. However, at Drillings’ request, Ulster County Judge Bryan Rounds, who presided over the Youth Part court case, closed the courtroom to the public and press, forestalling the Freeman’s ability to witness the further proceedings.
In a previous case, when a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were charged with assault stemming from a March 2023 attack on another youth in the Kingston High School cafeteria, Rounds allowed the Freeman to remain in the courtroom. The only caveat in that case was that the Freeman could not report the name of the 15-year-old, a requirement to which the Freeman agreed.
Additional charges are expected, police said. The youth was sent to a secured youth detention facility pending a future appearance.
Police said they were assisted by New York State Police, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, and the Ulster County Child Advocacy Center.
Ulster County Chief Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Culmone-Mills declined to comment following Monday’s proceeding before Rounds, citing the ongoing investigation.