Crime

Bishop calls for Mercure's formal dismissal from priesthood

Submitted by Chris Rooney, WNYT Web Manager

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011, 12:29pm

Bishop calls for Mercure's formal dismissal from priesthood

Defrocked priest Gary Mercure is set to be sentenced later today after having been convicted in Berkshire County last week of raping two Queensbury altar boys during visits to Massachusetts in the 1980s.

Mercure was a priest in the Roman Catholic Diosese of Albany at the time. He was removed from active ministry in 2008, but is technically still a priest.

In advance of his sentencing, Bishop Howard Hubbard issued a statement saying he is asking the Vatican to formally remove Mercure from the priesthood...

View Comments | Post a Comment

Troy woman charged with DWI in after accident in Livingston

Submitted by Sophia Sofferman, WNYT Web Producer

Monday, February 14th, 2011, 4:17pm

Troy woman charged with DWI in after accident in Livingston

A Troy woman has been accused of driving while intoxicated after crashing her car in Livingston.

State Police Troopers say they found Carleen Neer, 31, of 16th Street in Troy on February 12 with her car overturned at County Route 31 in the Town of Livingston.

Troopers tell NewsChannel 13 that Neer was unable to complete roadside sobriety tests, and her BAC was .10.

Neer is set to return in the Town of Livingston Justice Court on Feb. 24.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Mercure guilty in clergy sex abuse case

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Thursday, February 10th, 2011, 6:24pm

PITTSFIELD, Mass. - A Catholic priest from the Capital Region has been convicted of raping two altar boys over 20 years ago.

Sixty-two-year-old Gary Mercure of Troy has been found guilty on all four counts he faced in Berkshire Superior Court.

Mercure raped the boys in Great Barrington and Monterey in 1986 and in New Ashford in 1989.

Mercure was a priest in the Diocese of Albany at the time and the victims are from New York. He has since been permanently removed from ministry.

After only two hours of deliberation. The jury of eight women and four men returned to Berkshire Superior Court late this morning.

Mercure showed little emotion as the four guilty verdicts were reported. In all he has been convicted of three counts of rape of a child with force and one count of indecent assault and battery.

View Comments | Post a Comment

One of Troy's 'Most Wanted' turns himself in

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011, 3:41pm

One of Troy’s “Most Wanted” criminals turned himself in Wednesday morning, according to the city’s Deputy Director of Public Information.

Twenty-six year-old Lamar Morales turned himself in at Troy Police Headquarters.

Morales was wanted for violent burglary in the 2^nd degree and a condition of sentence violation.

“The effect of publicizing these criminals is that not only do they know the heat of the spotlight is on them but so do their friends, family, criminal associates, and neighbors. This individual recognized the clock was ticking before he was caught or someone else turned him in,” said Tutunjian in a statement. “However, we will not rest or be satisfied and will continue to keep the pressure on these criminals until our streets and neighborhoods are completely safe.”

View Comments | Post a Comment

Troy releases list of 'most wanted'

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011, 4:29pm

TROY- The city of Troy has released an updated "most wanted" list for 2011.

The public is asked to contact the Troy Police Department’s tip line at 518-270-4426 if they have information that could lead to the arrest of the following individuals:

View Comments | Post a Comment

Defense seeks to create uncertainty in Mercure trial

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Monday, February 7th, 2011, 10:06pm

PITTSFIELD, Mass. - After Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan explained New York law prevented prosecution for thousands of reported sexual attacks involving Father Gary Mercure around Queensbury, a New York State Police forensics investigator was called.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Two arrested in connection with burglarizing River Street home

Submitted by Sophia Sofferman, WNYT Web Producer

Friday, February 4th, 2011, 3:35pm

Two arrested in connection with burglarizing River Street home

Police have arrested two Troy men accused of burglarizing a house on River Street.

Troy Police say Gregory Clark, 20, of Fifth Avenue and Willis Nathan Harrington, 24, of Second Avenue forced their way into the home on January 23. That’s when the suspects held the alleged victims at gunpoint taking $1,000 cash.

One of the victims was reportedly pistol whipped.

Clark and Harrington were both charged with criminal use of a firearm, burglary and petit larceny. They were arraigned in Troy Police Court Friday and remanded to Rensselaer County Jail without bail.