Investigations lead to multiple arrests
By RODNEY MINOR, The Leader-Herald
POSTED: June 26, 2008
GLOVERSVILLE - City police have made multiple arrests following investigations into three incidents - two fires and a larceny - that all occurred in vacant buildings.
One of the fires severely damaged a house at 45 Grand St. and resulted in an arson charge for a 22-year-old Northville man. All others charged were teens.
Jerome Fonda, of 111 Fondacres Road, Northville, was charged by police with third-degree arson after an investigation into the April 17 fire.
Police said Fonda, Ryan M. Walker, 17, of 121 Spring St., and a 15-year-old city resident broke into the house, where Fonda started a fire on the floor. The fire spread through the building and caused extensive damage, police said.
The city would later have the building demolished because it was deemed structurally unsound.
Walker was charged with third-degree criminal trespass in the incident. The 15-year-old, whom police did not identify, was charged with juvenile delinquency, with the underlying charge being third-degree criminal trespass.
Walker also was charged with third-degree criminal trespass in the other two incidents investigated by city police.
Walker was one of four people arrested following an investigation into the theft of copper from a vacant building.
Timothy Belden, 19, listed as homeless, Jonathan Vouga, 16, of 28 Fourth Ave., and Andrew Thompson, 16, of 66 Fourth Ave. all were charged with third-degree burglary and petit larceny in the incident.
Police said all four entered 181 N. Main St. on several occasions and caused damage to the interior of the building while stealing copper.
Belden and Vouga were arraigned and sent to Fulton County Jail.
Thompson also was charged Tuesday with third-degree criminal trespass, along with Walker, following a police investigation into a June 16 fire at 185 N. Main St.
Police said the pair entered the building before the fire happened.
Both fires involved vacant buildings where youths would gather and party, police said.
Fonda and Thompson are being held at the Police Department. Walker was released with a ticket to appear in City Court.
Police said the investigation has not ended, and more arrests in the case are probable.
Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-25 |26-38 | Post a comment
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oneofthem
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07-13-08 10:16 PM
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well for all you guys that have no idea what you are talking about. this is Andrew Thompson and i was part of this. this article isn't even 50% correct on what really happened and the only ones that really kno what you are talking about is cobaltgoddess, corruptioninggloversville, slider, vk911k, and kmyoung4 so the rest of you can go f*** yourselves because my parents work there a**** off to support my family. u know none of the facts that deal with this article so stop judging the parents because this is no ones fault but my own. i did this to myself and now i must deal with the consequences.
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morningstar
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06-27-08 9:24 PM
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You make no sense. It also sounds like you're a bit too defensive. "Methinks thou doth protest too much..."
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kmyoung4
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06-27-08 2:34 PM
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In continuation, I would just like to say that your narrow-minded views are so provincial. Maybe you need to step foot out of Fulton County every now and then and join the real world. These problems are every where and can happen to any body. I also am willing to bet that you think every person in jail or prison is guilty. If I am wrong about that then what makes you think you are right about everything?
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kmyoung4
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06-27-08 2:17 PM
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TO ALL OF YOU!!! Let me just say that you all need something better to do than sit at your computer and bash others and their parenting skills. I wish I could be as perfect as you all claim to be. It must be nice. I just can't believe that so many of you are judgemental without knowing any of the facts. I get so tired of others that are so quick to judge. Do you know the specifics in any of their cases? Didn't think so! So why don't you all just shut up and get your own life!! Start looking at your own family instead of your neighbors. To comment on the jerk who mentioned poor, welfare cases, how is the welfare line today?
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morningstar
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06-27-08 8:38 AM
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Guinta, you are exactly right. Keep them busy and teach them many things. If you, as a parent have a strong hand in developing your child's interests, at least you have some measure of control over what they may choose when they are older. Many of the ideas you mentioned involve a measure of discipline without even using "tough love". This begins when kids are very young, not just at the teen years, so as far as I can tell, parents can still drop the ball when they are nice or affluent or hard-working if they don't spend the time focusing on their kids from a young age. It really isn't that difficult and the enjoyment and pride you get when you see a happy kid with personal accomplishments is irreplaceable .
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momof2ny
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06-27-08 7:14 AM
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Jonathan Vouga was also in trouble back in April for breaking into cars up at the Gloversville High School with a couple other people. Slaps on the wrist is all they got then.
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Guinta
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06-27-08 6:59 AM
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One thing I wouldn't want is my kid hanging out in a 'pool hall'! Yikes. I'm done raising my daughter now but when she was young I took her to karate classes, horses, the beach, the zoo, summer day camp, library. You have to get kids busy when they're young, teach them how to garden or draw or do carpentry. I don't buy that there's nothing for kids to do.
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Guinta
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06-27-08 6:54 AM
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Kids are different now? I doubt it. When I was growing up on the relatively well off south shore fo LI, my high school was repeatedly vandalized by students and my mother's car was stolen from the grocery store parking lot by some punk. What's different?
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Bill
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06-27-08 3:34 AM
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Great job copers
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slider
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06-26-08 10:53 PM
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vk911k, I will agree with you to a point. Yes I have seen parents who try try try and no matter what, the kids are bad. Good parents do not equate to good kids. At some point kids have to make these decisions on their own. All we can do is give them the best guidance we can and hope for the best. But in most cases, it seems that kids follow in their parents foot steps. Parents are the ones who have to show kids right from wrong. They rely on us and if we show them the wrong path, they usually follow. No perfect situation, we just try our best and hope.
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vk911k
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06-26-08 10:25 PM
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Everyone seems to bash the parents here..it's not the parents fault for what a teenager does they have there own mind and they do know right from wrong at these ages!!!.I personally know 2 parents here they are strict loving giving parents..trying to keep there kids straight..but it was the kids choice to do wrong and yes they should be punished.not the parents..They are going threw a tough time now themselves bashing there heads...but the problem with teens nowadays is theyfeel we awe them!! Nothing that the parents say or does matters to these kids...
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itsjustme
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06-26-08 10:19 PM
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"icetea" I wasnt making remarks about kids from gloversville sd I was saying that i am looking into not living in gloversville.. if you know anything about real estate they break everything up into School Districts.. so if you are looking into living in one area you go by the school district.. thanks anyway!
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ReclaimGville
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06-26-08 9:21 PM
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Cobalt, then they are going where they belong,hopefully-PRISON. Maybe they will get the idea there! If not, when they get out they will probably fall through the "loophole" again and end back in PRISON!
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cobaltgoddess
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06-26-08 9:17 PM
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Reclaim , where I do agree with you that parenting does involve tough love - I do have to bring up a point . Who are we to judge where these kids come from just from an article ? It is just so easy to say that since Fulton county is a poor county that all people are on welfare ? What these kids did had nothing to do with the welfare system . They were looking for an outlet and they found it . I know the parents of one of the persons involved and believe me they have been through every*****avenue possible to get their child some help and the system has failed every time . They are not uneducated , nor toothless or on welfare . They are hardworking people that actually give a*****about their kids to the point that they have mentally and financially exhausted themselves to hopefully give them a better life . But when a teen is on the cusp of becoming an adult they will do whatever they want and that’s when they fall into loopholes in the system because of their age .
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CORRUPTIONINGLOVERSVILLE
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06-26-08 9:04 PM
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hey gloverdump first of all who are any of you to judge the parents you all could be sitting there in the same place. I know at least 1 parent and hes a hard worker and has money so why think that way 16 yrs old the parents did there part now its up to the kid. I had awesome parents and i still messed up and made wrong choices in life even did jail time. nut guess what I have a successful business and make more than you. So stop blaming parents. Serial killers moms like i said they make there own choice
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slider
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06-26-08 9:01 PM
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Boy you are all correct. There is nothing to do in this area for kids and yes we are not in the ozzie and harriet zone anymore. As a parent with 2 kids this is a major struggle. TV is nothing but glamorized violence and the video games are the same. I can already see signs of that building anger in my oldest and it scares me. Even with that, he is a good kid with a good heart, so all is not lost. If you can teach your kids 1 thing - respect, that is half the battle.
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CORRUPTIONINGLOVERSVILLE
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06-26-08 8:58 PM
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everyone complains about youth gone wrong but yet to see anyone do a*****thing. There is not a*****thing for kids to do in the area there was the y now its too far away for the "less fortunate" to get there. Lets get together and figure something better for them to do. Not condoning what they did but will say when theres not even a pool hall or a place to just hang for them they have to find abandoned stuff whick what better place than good old Gville
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ReclaimGville
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06-26-08 8:38 PM
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Sometimes parenting involves "toughlove". These bums come from parents who are bums, plain and simple!! We are in a vicious cycle that continues to spin out of control. Until we control these welfare bums from having more kids this is what is going to continue in our society!!
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morningstar
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06-26-08 8:02 PM
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I agree with you cobalt, but it's easier than people make it out to be. The responsibility for my kids' character lies first with my husband and I. Yes, there is violence and yes, society is a mess, but our difference is made first at home. We talk about every little thing from manners to lying to being aware of other people's feelings. By doing this, we are cultivating a sense of belonging to what's right. It is not an option for us. So far, we have three sweet and kind kids at different ages who have empathy and kindness. It didn't kill us to raise them this way.
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cobaltgoddess
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06-26-08 7:44 PM
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Let’s face it we are no longer the society of Ozzy and Harriet , those days are long gone Society has changed - violence is everywhere ; TV , music, video games and the media .. When a child is acting out and needs help where do parents turn . Parents rights are limited , schools can help so much and funds are limited . Next step would be maybe having law enforcement or other agencies step in and try to set them straight - but even then they have high case loads and limited funds . It’s a harsh cycle . No matter what social skills or morals a parent will teach to their child , peers and society will undermine it It’s easier to place the blame on parents that are doing everything possible for their children then to say that we have a failing system and society .. Maybe its time we took a look at ourselves and our society and realize that none of us is perfect . Its time to stop slinging mud and throwing the blame at everyone and start making a difference .
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morningstar
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06-26-08 7:28 PM
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I know who two of them are. One of them had a glimmer of hope as a kid, but you could see he was headed in the wrong direction and seemed to be losing his empathy. Now only a few years later, there he is. So sad. Sometimes all it takes is one person, a parent, neighbor, friend, who makes the difference. It would seem that these kids lost out on that and let their dark sides come through. Part of me is furious with the parents for not doing what they should. Another part feels bad for them as well. Even if they didn't do a good job, I'm sure they didn't hope for this. Life is a lot simpler when you put the work in with your kids. Discipline is often more difficult than giving in, but so worth the work!
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slider
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06-26-08 7:19 PM
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Pictures are in the paper. Scary looking kids, you can see the hate/anger in them. Too bad. Probably had no parent help like many of you said, but still they are at that age where they can decide what is right and wrong. Problem with today's youth - no respect for anyone or anything, including themselves.
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theoneandonly
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06-26-08 6:20 PM
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This story is a fine example of youth gone wrong in our community. And if we investigate further, I'm sure you will find out that it all began at the home. The problem now a days is that parents turn their head. If I was that age and ever thought of sneaking out of my house or never returned, I knew what would be waiting for me when I got home. There is no follow up in the homes. Parents need to be held responsible for their child's actions. Maybe a little time in jail for them too would make them a little more involved in their children's lives.
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kukana
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06-26-08 6:03 PM
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although i am glad that got these people with the fires and that, i have to wonder why on earth the police have not made an arrest for the intentional fire that killed debby morris in the park street fire in december.
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JUSTME2008
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06-26-08 5:50 PM
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I totally agree ReclaimGville, to bad though alot of "would be" decent innocent kids will be in jail in do time.
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