Carmel Man, 19, Gets Jail Time After Drug, Weapon Charges

PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. -- A Carmel man who was charged with selling heroin and then found to be under the influence of drugs while in jail awaiting a court appearance for having an illegal knife was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in state prison followed by two years parole supervision, Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy announced Tuesday.

Joseph Kotzur-O’Connor
Photo Credit: *Putnam County District Attorney's Office*

Joe Lombardi

10/31/2017 2:20 p.m.

Joseph Kotzur-O’Connor was issued a court appearance ticket on Feb. 9, 2017 for possessing the illegal knife, Tendy said. While the case was pending, Kotzur-O’Connor was subsequently charged with having sold a quantity of heroin to a person working with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit, according to Tendy.

While housed in the Putnam County Correctional Facility, Kotzur-O’Connor was found to be under the influence of narcotics, Tendy said.

A search of his jail cell by Putnam County Correctional Facility personnel revealed that he had brought into the facility Xanax, Seroquel and a quantity of marijuana, added Tendy.

Kotzur-O’Connor pled guilty on Aug. 30, 2017, to criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class B felony, and promoting prison contraband in the first degree, Class D felony. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor.

The case was handled by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Bureau of Investigations and Road Patrol, and the Putnam County Correctional Facility Investigators.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Breanne Smith and Larry Glasser.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Mahopac and receive free news updates.