A Schoharie County grand jury Thursday indicted Raymond C. George Jr. on a half-dozen charges in connection with the brutal death of James E. Williams Jr. on June 15.
Mr. George is accused of plowing his car into Mr. Williams as the victim, relaxing with his two dogs, sat outside the Colonial Motel in Cobleskill that afternoon.
The indictment handed up to Judge George Bartlett Thursday charges Mr. George, 53, with single counts of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, second-degree criminal mischief and two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Mr. Williams, 50, was trapped in the wreckage after he was struck and later died at the scene, police said in June.
Both men lived at the motel. Police said at the time of the incident that the two had been arguing, and the quarrel might have resulted in the crash.
“I’m not sure I’d call it an argument,” Schoharie County District Attorney Susan Mallery said Friday. “I’ll leave that to the jury. . .how they want to decide.”
Also in question was the speed of the George vehicle when it hit Mr. Williams and the motel, with the vehicle completely entering a room.
“We don’t want to release that [the speed] now,” Ms. Mallery said. “It might taint the jury.”
The criminal mischief charge is a result of the $150,000 in damage done to the motel, Ms. Mallery said.
One of Mr. Williams’ dogs died at the scene, and the other was later euthanized.
“He was holding one of the dogs in his arms,” Ms. Mallery said, referring to the cruelty charges.
Mr. George is in jail and is not allowed bail because he was convicted of two prior felonies.
Years ago, he was convicted of manslaughter/reckless cause of death. Later, he was convicted of sex offenses.
Mr. George was out on parole for the sex offenses and was wearing a GPS device at the time of the June incident.
Then, he left the scene but was later apprehended by State Police on East Main Street.
Ms. Mallery said Mr. George will be arraigned, and pre-trial motions will follow before he goes to trial.