A Utica man is facing charges after damaging vehicles in the Oneida County Sheriff's Office parking lot after just being released from the Oneida County Jail.
According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, James W. Yelle, 35, of Utica, had just been released from the Oneida County Jail when he was caught by staff members damaging vehicles in the parking lot just before 9 p.m. on Friday night.
Yelle damaged a total of three different vehicles before he was confronted by staff.
During the confrontation, Yelle spit on a staff member while being taken into custody.
Yelle is charged with three counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, all class A misdemeanors and one count of harassment in the second degree, a violation.
Yelle was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Whitestown Town Court on an upcoming date.
Sheriff Maciol says the vehicles belonged to employees of the sheriff's office.
NYS bail reform laws mandated that he be released with an appearance ticket.
The sheriff says one they receive the estimate of damages from the vehicle owners , they will more than likely be upgrading the charge to felony criminal mischief.
Once the damage amount exceeds $250, it gets upgraded to a felony.
More than likely, there will be a felony charge for each of the cars.
Sheirff Maciol says Yelle used an item that was in his personal property to cause the damage. His personal property was given back to him upon his release.