ITHACA, N.Y. — After about three days of deliberation and readbacks of testimony, jurors reached a verdict finding Tompkins County Deputy Jeremy Vann guilty of three of 14 charges against him.
It’s been nearly four weeks since the trial against Vann began, during which a woman accused him of attacking her, stealing her belonging and tampering with evidence, among other things.
The order of protection against the woman remains in place.
Vann’s parents and brother hugged him after the verdict was announced and he walked out of the courtroom holding a raven-locked woman’s hand. He declined to comment to reporters.
His attorney Ray Schlather said outside the courtroom, “I think, first of all, this was a very strong statement by the jury that the claims of domestic violence simply did not happen. And I think that has been probablyy at the core of this case and has been a real problem for Jeremy Vann from the beginning. So we are very, very heartened by that result.”
Schlather went on to say that he would be filing an appeal on behalf of Vann and thinks the charges will be under enough scrutiny to have them dismissed.
“It’s a disappointment that he was convicted of anything given the circumstances…,” Schlather said. “I’m pretty confident that those charges, probably, ultimately will be dismissed.
Vann will be sentenced on May 23 at 9:15 a.m.
The following are the jury’s decision:
Felonies
- third-degree robbery NOT GUILTY
- third-degree criminal mischief NOT GUILTY
- fourth-degree grand larceny NOT GUILTY
Misdemeanor
- third-degree assault NOT GUILTY
- criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation NOT GUILTY
- second-degree unlawful imprisonment NOT GUILTY
- fourth-degree criminal mischief NOT GUILTY
- fourth-degree criminal mischief NOT GUILTY
- fourth-degree tampering with a witness GUILTY
- third-degree criminal tampering MISTRIAL
- second-degree attempted coercion GUILTY
- second-degree attempted coercion GUILTY
- prohibited use of weapons NOT GUILTY
- prohibitions on the use and possession of firearms NOT GUILTY