Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen announces that David Storm of Mechanicville, New York, pleaded guilty yesterday in Saratoga County Court before Saratoga County Court Judge James A. Murphy, III to the Class “E” Felonies of Aggravated Family Offense and Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, in violation New York State Penal Law Sections 240.75(1) and 215.51(b)(v).
David Storm, a Predicate Felon, admitted in Court that he intentionally violated an Order of Protection by subjecting or attempting to subject the protected party to physical contact with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm the victim. Storm admitted that he then intentionally disobeyed the Court’s Order of Protection by contacting the victim from jail, and he had a previous conviction for Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree.
DA Heggen stated, “This case highlights the particular dangers inherent in domestic violence cases. Perpetrators of domestic violence crimes are especially insidious, committing crimes behind closed doors and then using a victim’s fear of future violence, hopefulness that the abuser can change, and desire to keep to the family together as a means to escape responsibility. My office is dedicated to holding perpetrators of family violence accountable—we will pursue the prosecution of domestic violence cases using all available evidence in order to send a message to these offenders that this community will not stand for family violence.”
In Saratoga County, free and confidential services are available to victims of domestic violence through organizations such as Wellspring in Saratoga Springs, as well as the Domestic Violence Advocacy Program in Mechanicville.
Storm will be sentenced on April 25, 2018 as a Second Felony Offender to an indeterminate term of incarceration of 3-6 years in State Prison, with Orders of Protection for the victims.
Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Ruglis and Jennifer Buckley prosecuted this case.