December 4, 2020
From The Livingston County Sheriff’s Dept And 9-1-1 Center:
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of two (2) Steuben County residents on drug related charges after a traffic stop.
On November 27, 2020 at approximately 3:40 pm, Deputy Gordy Truax was patrolling Interstate 390 as part of the Sheriff’s Office Operation Safe Interstate initiative, when he stopped a vehicle for a violation of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.
The operator of the vehicle was identified as Travis J. Carlton, age 22 of Hornell NY. The Deputy Sheriff suspected that there was drug activity in the vehicle and that the operator was under the influence of drugs. Deputy Justin Hilt, who is assigned to the Sheriff’s Office STOP DWI Unit, responded to the scene and conducted a drug investigation which included the performance of standardized field sobriety tests. At the conclusion of the roadside investigation, Carlton was taken into custody for DWAI Drugs.
It is also alleged that during the investigation a passenger in the vehicle, Brendan J. Seger age 20 from Hornell NY, was found to be in possession of approximately thirty four (34) grams of marijuana. It is further alleged that Seger attempted to conceal the marijuana on his person in an attempt to prevent Deputy Sheriff’s from discovering the illegal substance. Carlton was transported to the Sheriff’s Office substation in Lakeville where Sergeant James Merrick, who is a Certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), conducted an evaluation. It was the Sergeant’s expert opinion that Carlton was under the influence of cannabis and could not operate a vehicle in a safe manner.
Carlton was arrested and charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs. Seger was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana in the 1st Degree and felony Tampering with Physical Evidence. Carlton was turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for processing and issued appearance tickets for the charges as the offenses did not qualify for pre-arraignment detention under the NYS Justice Reform Act. Carlton was released to a responsible third party and will answer to the charges at a later date in the Town of Avon Court.
Seger was also turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for processing and held for pre-arraignment detention as the offenses did qualify for pre-arraignment detention under the NYS Justice Reform Act due to Seger being charged with a felony and currently on Parole. The District Attorney’s Office was contacted in regards to bail due to the felony level charge. It was recommended that Seger be held on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond.
Seger was later arraigned at the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part (LC-CAP) at the Livingston County Jail before Town of York Justice Koch. The Judge did remand Seger to the custody of the Sheriff on $500 cash bail or $1,000 bond. Deputy Michael Phillips assisted with the investigation.
