February 20, 2018
LIVINGSTON COUNTY, NY – Livingston County Sheriff Tom Dougherty is releasing information about the weekend arrest of two people on felony drug charges after a traffic stop on Interstate 390. The sheriff says that on Saturday February 17, Deputy Shawn Whitford stopped a vehicle on 390 for a New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. During the course of the traffic stop, the Deputy Sheriff ran a driver’s license check on the driver, Robert L. Rogers, 46, Rochester, and found that his license had been suspended four times. Rogers was taken into custody for Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the 3rd Degree. Officials say that the sheriff’s office had gotten a tip prior to the pullover, that Rogers and his passenger, Tina Mackenzie, 48, Hornell, were in possession of drugs. According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, the two were in possession of 20 bags of crack cocaine, as well as marijuana.
It’s also reported that there was a four year old child with Rogers and Mackenzie in the vehicle. The child’s mother was contacted and she did respond to Sheriff’s Office Headquarters to pick him up. Rogers was charged with the felony of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree (class B felony), felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree (class D felony), Endangering the Welfare of a Child (misdemeanor), Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle 3rd (traffic misdemeanor), and the Vehicle and Traffic Law violation.
Mackenzie was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana.
Rogers and Mackenzie were turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for processing and pre-arraignment detention. The District Attorney’s Office was contacted in regards to bail, however because both Rogers and Mackenzie have previous felony convictions, the recommendation was that they be held without the chance of bail. Rogers and Mackenzie were later arraigned in the Town of Livonia Court before Judge Lemen. The Judge did remand both to the custody of the Sheriff without bail.
Child Protective Services was contacted and they did open an investigation into the welfare of the child.
Officials are also thanking State Trooper Brandon Beers of the North Hornell State Police Barracks for providing valuable information about MacKenzie using Interstate 390 to transport drugs.
