Endwell Man Flees from Weapons and Stolen Property Charges
In a press release on Thursday, Broome County District Attorney Michael Korchak announced that an Endwell man fled the Broome County Courthouse just before a jury handed down a guilty verdict for weapons and stolen property charges.
According to the press release, Kennard D. Wellington of Endwell was found guilty of Second Degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, two counts of Third Degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Second Degree Obstructing Governmental Administration and Resisting Arrest.
Wellington was driving with a suspended license and in an uninsured vehicle when he was pulled over by police on Main Street in Johnson City. He refused to cooperate with the Johnson City police officers and was forcibly removed from the car, at which time officers discovered that he was carrying a loaded .40 caliber handgun in his waistband.
During the second day of his trial, Wellington left the court before the jury could deliver a guilty verdict. After less than an hour of deliberations, the guilty verdict came down for all charges including the possession of an unlicensed, loaded .40 caliber handgun. An arrest warrant was issued for Wellington.
"This is not a law abiding citizen," said District Attorney Korchak. "This is a convicted felon, out on our streets with a loaded handgun. Thanks to the Johnson City police, this defendant was disarmed before anyone was shot."
Wellington has a prior felony conviction in Broome County from 2007 for the sale of narcotics. He now faces up to 15 years in New York State prison upon his arrest and sentencing.