Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen reports that Michael Pelletier (dob 5/31/1988), of Hudson Falls, NY was sentenced today by Saratoga County Court Judge James A. Murphy, III, to an aggregate term of incarceration in a state correctional facility totaling 22 years, followed by 20 years of post-release supervision. In addition, Pelletier will be required to register as a sex offender and is ordered to have no contact with the victim for 30 years. Judge Murphy imposed sentences for each of the charges Pelletier was found guilty of by a Saratoga County Court jury on September 25, 2025. Defendant Pelletier was sentenced as follows: Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, in violation of New York Penal Law Section 130.50(1), a “Class B” violent felony- 22 years determinate, followed by 20 years post-release supervision; Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, in violation of New York Penal Law Section 130.65(1), a “Class D” violent felony- 7 years determinate, followed by 5 years post-release supervision; Assault in the Second Degree, in violation of New York Penal Law Section 120.05(6), a “Class D” violent felony- 7 years determinate, followed by 5 years post-release supervision; Assault in the Third Degree, in violation of New York Penal Law Section 120.00(1), a “Class A” Misdemeanor- one year; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, in violation of New York Penal Law Section 260.10(1), a “Class A” misdemeanor- one year. Judge Murphy directed that each of the imposed sentences shall run concurrently. This physical and sexual assault stems from an incident on June 24, 2023, on Selfridge Road in the Town of Moreau.
Over the course of a three-week trial, evidence was presented by Senior Assistant District Attorney Rachael Phelan and Assistant District Attorney Kayla Potter regarding the actions and conduct of Defendant Michael Pelletier. The witness testimony and the physical evidence proved that the Defendant violently assaulted a 31-year-old female- physically and sexually- inside his home with children present.
The victim addressed the Court and the Defendant and conveyed how these crimes have impacted her. In her victim impact statement, she bravely noted:
“[The defendant] chose not to own up to what he did to me. He chose not to hold himself accountable. I am furious, disgusted and humiliated. He took the person I was then away, and I’m never going to get her back. I will never be the same person he took from me, and even though I will start to heal, this is something you never truly recover from. This will affect me for the rest of my life. Every day is like a battle for me to get through, and the fault lies with [the defendant’s] choices to violently assault me.”
When given the opportunity to address the Court, the defendant declined to do so.
As he imposed the sentences reflected above, Judge Murphy told the defendant that “This is no means no”. The Judge acknowledged to the victim: “You are a survivor; you testified; you told the jury what you experienced, and the Court is grateful for that”.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Rachael Phelan noted that the victim’s “…bravery is commendable. She had the courage to come forward to the police; to testify at trial and to tell the jury what she endured on that night. She has shown utmost strength and resilience in the darkest time of her life”.
District Attorney Heggen reflected “The victim of these crimes is a survivor and should be commended for coming forward and enduring the difficult process of reporting and testifying in court to ensure that justice was achieved.”
The investigation was conducted by the Saratoga Springs Police Department and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.
DATED: December 4, 2024