Two Copake men, who were arrested last August, for being in possession of stolen construction equipment, plead guilty Thursday in Columbia County Court.
The Columbia County D.A.'s office says 40 year old Jeremiah Simpson plead guilty to two counts of attempted criminal possession of stolen property and two counts of grand larceny.
48 year old Thomas Puff plead guilty to criminal possession of stolen property.
Both men will be sentenced June 27th.
Original press release:
Two Columbia County men arrested for possession of heavy equipment
NEW YORK STATE POLICE
Major Richard L. Mazzone
Troop K Commander
PRESS RELEASE
Livingston, New York - August 29, 2018, the New York State Police from the Livingston barracks arrested Jeremiah J. Simpson, age 39, and Thomas R. Puff, age 47, both of Copake, NY, for two counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 3rd degree, a class D felony.
SP Livingston troopers responded to an address in the Town of Copake, for a possible sighting of both a stolen Bobcat 335 excavator and Cam Super Line trailer. With a total value of approximately $36,000. This heavy equipment had been reported stolen from the town of Broome, Schoharie County, to the State Police from the Princetown barracks in Troop G. Further investigation confirmed that the heavy equipment was in fact stolen, and had been hidden on the rural property in Copake.
Both men were arraigned before the town of Copake Court, and scheduled to re-appear on August 31, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. Puff was remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond. Simpson was remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond.
This investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the State Police- Bureau of Criminal Investigation at SP Livingston: 518-851-2893.