West Fulton continues to live in fear and “just because no one was hurt this time,” neighbors don’t want the case of Brian Goodrich, the man accused of firing shots in the hamlet the night of March 19 “taken lightly” or forgotten.
And they don’t want a plea deal or lesser charges.
That’s what Paul Wilson, flanked by a half-dozen other West Fulton residents, told the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors Friday.
Mr. Goodrich is charged with using a hunting rifle to fire shots from his vehicle along West Fulton Road.
Bullets struck the self-serve store at Sap Bush Cafe, an above-ground pool, and the firehouse, State Police said.
Mr. Goodrich was charged with one count of second-degree criminal mischief, a felony; two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, also felonies; and having a large-capacity ammo feeding device, a misdemeanor.
He has since been released on no-bail.
The case has been moved from Town of Fulton Court to Schoharie County Court and District Attorney Susan Mallery has said she plans to meet with Mr. Goodrich’s attorney and County Judge George Bartlett “to see if we can reach an agreement,” or plea deal.
No deal, Mr. Wilson said.
“We don’t feel safe,” he said. “The fact that someone might shoot up the town or worse…
Some residents have already left town, he said, and businesses are being hurt because customers don’t feel safe coming there.
Mr. Wilson said law enforcement has stepped up patrols in the Town of Futon hamlet and begged supervisors to help them keep them up.
Supervisors blamed the fact that Mr. Goodrich isn’t in jail on what they called New York State’s “catch and release laws.”
Everyone needs to lobby the state Senate and Assembly to get the laws changed, said Carlisle Supervisor John Leavitt, who’s retired from the State Police; no one’s more frustrated than law enforcement, he said.
“I sympathize with you. I’d be very upset too. I’ve had many conversations with the Sheriff [Ron] Stevens over this and he’s as frustrated as you are.”
Other supervisors had harsher words for Governor Kathy Hochul and her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo.
“Be very careful who you vote for in November,” said Broome Supervisor Steve Weinhofer.
“Obviously, it plays out in scenarios like this.”
“We’re being governed by people who don’t think like we do, who don’t live like we do,” said Schoharie Supervisor Alan Tavenner.
“It’s unfair and wrong on so many levels. They’ve nibbled away at bail reform even in the face of what it’s doing.”