Endwell Man Sentenced to 8 Years After Walking Away From Trial

A Broome County resident who vanished in the middle of his weapon possession trial will be heading to state prison.

Prosecutors said 40-year-old Kennard Wellington of Endwell had been convicted in a jury trial last October of criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration. The jury deliberated for less than an hour.

Wellington has been sentenced to eight years in prison and five years post-release supervision.

Wellington was arrested by Johnson City police in October 2021. Authorities had said he had been driving a car on Main Street in the village with a suspended license when he was pulled over.

Prosecutors said Wellington "refused to cooperate" with police and was "forcibly removed" from the vehicle. They said he had a loaded .40 caliber handgun in his waistband. The weapon had been reported stolen in South Carolina.

According to the district attorney's office, Wellington left his trial "during a break and never returned." He was taken into custody several days later by Binghamton police and the United States Marshal Fugitive Task Force.

Prosecutors said Wellington has a previous Broome County felony conviction for sale of narcotics in 2007.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.