YATES COUNTY--On Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, the New York State Police
Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Horseheads began an investigation into
Andrew Daugherty of Starkey. Over the course of several months, and
with the assistance of members of the BCI across Troops E, A, and C, 18
individuals were arrested and charged with various sex offenses alleged
to have been committed against a minor child. The New York State Police
in conjunction with the Holly Hills Police Department of Florida, the
Yates County District Attorney's Office, the Yates County Department of
Social Services, and the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit were
able to successfully conclude this month's long investigation. As a
result of the investigation, the victim was removed from an extremely
unsafe environment.
District Attorney Todd Casella presented the case to the Yates County Grand Jury on March 16, 2023, resulting in indictments being filed against Andrew Daugherty and Micheleine Ridley of Starkey, Michael Gucciardo of Bath, Tiffany Jamieson of Binghamton, Ashley Crandall of Corning, Mary Diederich of Elmira, Richard Tallarida of Elmira and Anthony Hawn of Holly Hills, Florida (formerly of Elmira). Andrew Daugherty was indicted for Predatory Sexual Assault against a Child (A-II Felony), Predatory Sexual Assault (A-II Felony), Sex Trafficking of a Child (B Felony), Compelling Prostitution (B Felony), Criminal Possession of a Weapon Third Degree (D Felony), Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony), Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony). Micheleine Ridley was indicted for Predatory Sexual Assault against a Child and Tampering with Physical Evidence (E Felony).
Andrew Daugherty was also charged as a co-defendant for aiding and abetting Michael Gucciardo in the commission of Rape First Degree (B Felony), Criminal Sexual Act First Degree (B Felony), Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony), Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony), Rape Third Degree (E Felony), and Criminal Sexual Act Third Degree (E Felony). Daugherty was also charged as a co-defendant for aiding and abetting several others including: Ashley Crandall with two counts of Criminal Sexual Act First Degree (B Felony); Anthony Hawn with Rape Second Degree (D Felony) and Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony); Mary Diederich with Criminal Sexual Act First Degree (B Felony) and Third Degree (E Felony), Aggravated Sexual Abuse Second Degree (C Felony), Sexual Abuse First Degree (D Felony), Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony), and Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony); Tiffany Jamieson with two counts of Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony); and Richard Tallarida with Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony), Rape Second Degree (D Felony), Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony), and Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony).
A number of other individuals have plead guilty by Superior Court Informations rather than proceeding to the grand jury and those include: Brittany Skinkle of Elmira, plead guilty on March 13, 2023 to one count of Criminal Sexual Act First Degree (B Felony) and faces a sentence of between three and a half to five years in a New York State Correctional Facility (NYSCF) plus 10 years in the Probation Registrant System (PRS) on June 6, 2023; Gregory Scears of Elmira plead guilty on March 13, 2023 to one count of Rape Third Degree (E Felony) and faces a sentence of no more than three years in a NYSCF plus 10 years PRS on June 6, 2023; Summer Elliott of Elmira plead guilty on Feb. 14, 2023 to one count of Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony) and one count of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony) and faces a sentence of no more than two to six years for the Use of a Child charge and no more than five years plus 10 years PRS on the Criminal Sexual Act Second; on April 25, 2023, Steven Sherman of Elmira, plead guilty on Feb. 14, 2023 to one count of Rape Third Degree (E Felony) and faces a sentence of no more than two years in a NYSCF plus 10 years PRS on April 25, 2023; Kayla Montgomery of Olean, plead guilty on April 10, 2023 to one count of Criminal Sexual Act First Degree (B Felony) and faces a sentence of between three and a half to five years in a NYSCF plus 10 years PRS on July 11, 2023.
Additionally, Zackery Crissell of Elmira, has been charged with Rape Second Degree (D Felony) and Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony), Wayne Niles of Elmira, has been charged with Rape Second Degree (D Felony), Ashley Shaffer has been charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony), Aaron Labar of Prattsburgh, was charged with Sexual Abuse First Degree (D Felony) but the charges have been returned to local Court and will be amended to Sexual Abuse Second Degree (A Misdemeanor), and Stephanie Ridley of Starkey has been charged with Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony) and Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony).
District Attorney Todd Casella presented the case to the Yates County Grand Jury on March 16, 2023, resulting in indictments being filed against Andrew Daugherty and Micheleine Ridley of Starkey, Michael Gucciardo of Bath, Tiffany Jamieson of Binghamton, Ashley Crandall of Corning, Mary Diederich of Elmira, Richard Tallarida of Elmira and Anthony Hawn of Holly Hills, Florida (formerly of Elmira). Andrew Daugherty was indicted for Predatory Sexual Assault against a Child (A-II Felony), Predatory Sexual Assault (A-II Felony), Sex Trafficking of a Child (B Felony), Compelling Prostitution (B Felony), Criminal Possession of a Weapon Third Degree (D Felony), Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony), Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony). Micheleine Ridley was indicted for Predatory Sexual Assault against a Child and Tampering with Physical Evidence (E Felony).
Andrew Daugherty was also charged as a co-defendant for aiding and abetting Michael Gucciardo in the commission of Rape First Degree (B Felony), Criminal Sexual Act First Degree (B Felony), Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony), Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony), Rape Third Degree (E Felony), and Criminal Sexual Act Third Degree (E Felony). Daugherty was also charged as a co-defendant for aiding and abetting several others including: Ashley Crandall with two counts of Criminal Sexual Act First Degree (B Felony); Anthony Hawn with Rape Second Degree (D Felony) and Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony); Mary Diederich with Criminal Sexual Act First Degree (B Felony) and Third Degree (E Felony), Aggravated Sexual Abuse Second Degree (C Felony), Sexual Abuse First Degree (D Felony), Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony), and Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony); Tiffany Jamieson with two counts of Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony); and Richard Tallarida with Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony), Rape Second Degree (D Felony), Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony), and Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony).
A number of other individuals have plead guilty by Superior Court Informations rather than proceeding to the grand jury and those include: Brittany Skinkle of Elmira, plead guilty on March 13, 2023 to one count of Criminal Sexual Act First Degree (B Felony) and faces a sentence of between three and a half to five years in a New York State Correctional Facility (NYSCF) plus 10 years in the Probation Registrant System (PRS) on June 6, 2023; Gregory Scears of Elmira plead guilty on March 13, 2023 to one count of Rape Third Degree (E Felony) and faces a sentence of no more than three years in a NYSCF plus 10 years PRS on June 6, 2023; Summer Elliott of Elmira plead guilty on Feb. 14, 2023 to one count of Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony) and one count of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony) and faces a sentence of no more than two to six years for the Use of a Child charge and no more than five years plus 10 years PRS on the Criminal Sexual Act Second; on April 25, 2023, Steven Sherman of Elmira, plead guilty on Feb. 14, 2023 to one count of Rape Third Degree (E Felony) and faces a sentence of no more than two years in a NYSCF plus 10 years PRS on April 25, 2023; Kayla Montgomery of Olean, plead guilty on April 10, 2023 to one count of Criminal Sexual Act First Degree (B Felony) and faces a sentence of between three and a half to five years in a NYSCF plus 10 years PRS on July 11, 2023.
Additionally, Zackery Crissell of Elmira, has been charged with Rape Second Degree (D Felony) and Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony), Wayne Niles of Elmira, has been charged with Rape Second Degree (D Felony), Ashley Shaffer has been charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Act Second Degree (D Felony), Aaron Labar of Prattsburgh, was charged with Sexual Abuse First Degree (D Felony) but the charges have been returned to local Court and will be amended to Sexual Abuse Second Degree (A Misdemeanor), and Stephanie Ridley of Starkey has been charged with Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony) and Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony).
