A Frankfort woman has been arrested and indicted after she allegedly helped Joseph Hess evade police after he ran over an elderly woman in October.
Lanessa Stewart, 36, was arrested by The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office on March 26. She has been indicted on charges of felony 2nd degree hindering prosecution after she allegedly helped Hess evade law enforcement.
Hess, 32 was arrested by U.S. Marshalls back on October 21 after a five-day manhunt that ended in a motel just outside of Philadelphia, PA. He had been on the run since October 16 when he struck an elderly woman with a stolen car in a McDonald’s parking lot in Ballston Spa after stealing her purse.
The victim suffered a compound leg fracture in the incident and had to be treated at Albany Medical Center due to the injuries.
“Those who assist individuals in evading law enforcement, particularly in the aftermath of a violent felony, will be held accountable,” said District Attorney Brett Eby in a press release. “Our office remains committed to ensuring that anyone who obstructs justice or aids offenders in avoiding apprehension faces appropriate consequences under the law.”
It’s unclear what specific assistance Stewart provided Hess. A review of the indictment only said what she was charged with and when asked about the case, Eby only said that she helped Hess evade capture.
Stewart was arraigned in the Saratoga County Court and was released to pretrial services. She is due in court on April 16. Hess, meanwhile, was charged with first degree robbery, assault and other offenses. He is due back in court on April 13.
Beasley required 28 stitches after his head slammed into the dashboard of the aircraft (Courtesy of Tina Smith)
Beasley said he and his nephew Nathan, (left), didn’t panic when they lost power and instead focused on getting it down safely. (Courtesy of Tina Smith)
It was a beautiful day in North Carolina for Jeff Beasley.
On March 8, the 47-year-old resident of Saratoga Springs was in Indian Trail, North Carolina visiting his family for his sister’s birthday when he decided to go up in a small plane with his nephew, Nathan. The 21-year-old had just received his pilot’s license and was excited to show off his skills to his family. Beasley volunteered to go up first.
After completing pre-flight checks, the two had just taken off when Beasley noticed something was wrong.
“I noticed something, it just felt like the thrust wasn’t there,” Beasley said. “About the same time my nephew made the comment, ‘uh oh.’”
At that point both men noticed that the propellor on the single engine Piper 28 wasn’t spinning as fast and the engine appeared to be stalling. Beasley said that he and his nephew didn’t panic and instead focused on getting the plane down safely. Both of them struggled to find a place to land as most of the area surrounding the airport was wooded.
“Everywhere I looked, it was just thick woods, and I knew if we went into the woods, we were most likely not going to make it,” Beasley said.
Beasley then spotted the place where they would eventually land — a cow pasture about a mile away from the airport in the opposite direction from where they took off.
“I said, ‘Do you think we can get over there?’” Jeff recalls asking Nathan. “And he said, ‘I don’t know, but we’re gonna try.’”
At about 30 feet off the ground, they struck a tree which seared off the left side of the aircraft, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, which released a preliminary report on the crash — something Beasley believes may have saved his life.
“If we would have landed without interference, I think maybe we would have rolled that plane many times in the field because it’s a cow field, it’s not very smooth, and planes aren’t exactly known for their suspensions,” Beasley said.
When the plane hit the ground, Beasley was slammed against the dashboard, resulting in a concussion, several broken rips, lacerations in his face, a possible bruised lung, and an air pocket between his chest and lung. He also lost four pints of blood in the ordeal. The force was so severe that his face broke the steel yoke of the aircraft, Beasley said.
His nephew suffered a broken hand, and a compression fracture in his back.
Beasley recalls being in and out of consciousness after the crash. He remembers hearing his nephew call out to him and telling his nephew to get up as he was lying face down in a cow pasture. He also remembers joking with the EMTs on the way to the hospital.
According to the Union County Sherriff’s Office, Nathan was airlifted to Atrium Hospital in Charlotte while Beasley was transported by ambulance.
The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28 registered to JTS Aircraft LLC, a company based out of South Carolina. It first received its airworthiness certification in 1969, was overhauled in 2016 and passed its annual inspection as recently as Dec. 2025, according to the NTSB.
Inspection of the aircraft after the accident showed it had no water or debris in the fuel tank, and the engine didn’t have any external signs of catastrophic engine failure. Prior to the accident the airframe had flown 2,200 miles since it was overhauled in 2016.
Helping Beasley recover from the incident has been his longtime girlfriend, Tina Smith. Smith, who was in Las Vegas on a separate trip quickly rushed to Charlotte and was there within a day of the accident. Beasley said she’s been by his side ever since, helping him manage the pain and healing process.
“I wouldn’t be able to do without her,” Beasley said. “There’s been some bad nights where I can’t sleep, and I’m driving her crazy because she wants to sleep. I thank her so much for that. This has not been easy for her, and she’s just doing it all right now.”
He’s also grateful for the outpouring of support from friends who have been dropping by with food and even offered to drive to Charlotte to bring him back to New York.
While Beasley said he’s not afraid of flying, he doesn’t plan on flying in any small planes again — especially not ones made in the 60s. He said his nephew can’t wait to get back in the air despite the accident.
Beasley said that at no point were either of them afraid they weren’t going to make it. While Beasley said he’s not afraid to die, he wants to be there for his kids and make sure he’s there for them. He said that the biggest message he got from the crash is to hug your loved ones, as cliché as it sounds.
“The things that mean the most to me in life are the simple ones,” Beasley said “It’s easy conversations on a Sunday morning, waking up and having breakfast with people you love. It’s packing my kid’s lunches and helping them with their homework, as aggravating as it might be, planning parties, playing golf trips and going on a boat. Lake George in the summertime. Life’s beautiful.”
A Galway man has plead guilty in federal court to harassing the wife of slain United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Shane Daley, 40, pleaded guilty on March 19 in Albany on charges of cyberstalking for an incident that occurred in December 2024, hours after Thompson’s murder.
“Shane Daley celebrated the cold-blooded murder of Brian Thompson and senselessly tried to maximize the Thompson family’s suffering,” First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said. “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that federal law enforcement will not tolerate such sickening conduct. I commend the hard work of the FBI and members of my office and the Southern District of New York for bringing Daley to justice.”
Daley was first arrested in August 2025 for allegedly calling Thompson’s widow nine times between Dec. 4 and Dec. 7, 2024. On four of those occasions, Daley left four voicemails, each less than a minute long.
In these voicemails, Daley told her that Thompson “deserved to [expletive] die” and that she and her children deserved to die. He also expressed happiness that Thompson had been killed and leveled several profane insults at her and her family.
While Daley originally denied making the phone calls when interviewed by the FBI, he later conceded that he had been drinking at the time the calls were made, and it was possible he made the calls, according to the Federal criminal complaint.
When pretrial services searched Daley’s residence, they found a loaded shotgun, whip-its, marijuana and beer cans throughout his car and room. They also discovered emails in which he threatened violence against those conducting immigration enforcement.
Daley was ordered by the court to undergo in-patient drug and alcohol treatment, which he successfully completed, according to a letter to the court filed by his attorney.
Daley will be sentenced on July 17. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years’ probation, and a $250,000 fine.
Michael Lopez has been announced as the new principal of Maple Avenue Middle School (Courtesy of Saratoga Springs City School District)
After a three-month search, Saratoga Springs City School District has appointed Michael Lopez to serve as Principal of Maple Avenue Middle School in Saratoga Springs.
Lopez will start on April 13. The position has been held by interim principal Mark Fish since Nov. 19. Fish was hired after principal Scott Singer pleaded guilty to stealing funds from a union he was a part of.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michael Lopez as the new principal of Maple Avenue Middle School,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Patton. “His proven leadership as an educator and administrator, combined with his commitment to fostering academic growth and social-emotional development, make him an excellent leader for our students and staff.”
Lopez is an assistant principal at Watervliet Jr./Sr. High School. Prior to that position, he worked as Assistant Academy Principal at Albany High School, and as a social studies teacher in Syracuse and Queens.
As for education, Lopez holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from SUNY Courtland and a master’s degree in adolescent education with a history concentration from Dowling College.
Mike Brandi has announced his resignation as Chairman of the Saratoga Springs Republican Committee due to a move to Wilton (Courtesy of Michael Brandi)
Mike Brandi, Chairman of the Saratoga Springs Republican Committee has announced his resignation after four years on the job.
Brandi made the announcement in a Facebook post on March 12. The announcement said his resignation is due to an upcoming move to Wilton. While he may be stepping down from the top job at the committee, he will serve as its Vice Chair.
“Serving as Chairman has been an honor and a privilege,” Brandi said in the statement. “Together, we strengthened the committee, supported capable candidates, and worked to ensure that voters had principled, responsible choices. Our work promoted transparency, accountability, and professionalism—principles that I hope will continue to guide the committee for years to come.”
During his time as chair, Brandi saw Republicans gain decisive control of the Saratoga Springs City Council. In 2025, Republicans elected Jessica Troisi for Commissioner of Accounts and JoAnne Kiernan for Commissioner of Finance while reelecting incumbent Mayor John Safford. Safford was first elected mayor in 2023, defeating then Mayor Ron Kim.
Outside of elections, Brandi initiated a criminal complaint against then Commissioner of Accounts Dillon Moran for failure to comply with New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). In the subsequent trial, Moran was found guilty of three counts of unlawful obstruction of public records and fined $600 — the first case of a conviction for this offense in New York.
Brandi testified against Moran in the trial and received acclaim for his actions. In December, he was honored by the New York Coalition for Open Government through its 2025 “Nice List.” Moran meanwhile lost reelection and was placed on the Coalition’s “Naughty List.”
As for the Saratoga Springs Republicans, attorney Gerard Paris was unanimously elected to serve as chairman going forward.
In addition to the school elections in May, primary elections in June, and general elections in November, New York will have its Village elections this Tuesday, March 18. While there are nine villages in Saratoga County, only three will host contested elections this Tuesday: Corinth, Victory, and Waterford.
Of the remaining six, two villages — South Glens Falls and Galway, both have candidates running unopposed. Meanwhile, the Villages of Stillwater, Schuylerville, Round Lake, and Ballston Spa all hold their elections at different times.
For those who live in the three villages with seats on the line, here is a brief guide on where to vote and who is on the ballot.
Corinth
Voters in one of Saratoga County’s northernmost villages, Corinth, are set to elect two Village Trustees this election cycle. The two Trustees will serve for your year terms. Three candidates are running for these positions.
Those who live in the Village of Corinth can vote at the Village Hall at 244 Main Street starting at noon (12:00 p.m.) until 9:00 p.m.
Victory
Sixteen miles downriver from Corinth is where the next election will take place. Voters in the Village of Victory will vote for a single Village Trustee to a four-year term. Two candidates are running for this position.
Those who live in the Village of Victory can vote at the Community Center at 23 Pine Street. Polls are open from noon (12:00 p.m.) until 9:00 p.m.
Waterford
Further down the Hudson to Saratoga County’s southernmost village is where the final contested election will take place. Voters in the Village of Waterford will select a new mayor. The new mayor will serve for four years and succeed Mayor Bert Mahoney who has served for the last 28 years. Two candidates are running to replace the longtime mayor.
Michelle Cleary Polls in Waterford are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters in districts 1 and 2 vote at the Waterford Senior Center located at 125 2nd Street while voters in district 1 vote at the Waterford Fire Department located at 13 8th Street.
The Saratoga Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Malta man after he is alleged to have abused two dogs in the Town of Malta.
Joseph Landry IV, 40, was arrested on March 5. He was charged with two counts of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and two counts of failure to provide sustenance. All counts are class A misdemeanors.
The dogs— a Maltese and Yorkshire terrier —were found on Jan. 9, 2026, at Landry’s residence on Route 9 in Malta. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the terrier was found with facial hair sticking to its eyes, overgrown nails, sores on its back and severe dental disease. The Maltese, meanwhile, was found with severe crusting of the eyes, ocular discharge, fur matting around its eyes, a flea infestation and a dewclaw growing on the pad of its paw.
The dogs were transported to the Saratoga County Animal Shelter for treatment and Evaluation. The house was condemned by Malta Code Enforcement.
Landry was arraigned in Malta Town Court and returned to the Warren County Jail where he was being held on other charges.
A Greenfield man has been arrested on several weapons and other charges after he sent threatening text messages to another person.
Gerald Ovitt, 54, was arrested on March 2, 2026, after he allegedly sent a threatening text message to someone he knew, and resisted arrest when confronted by Saratoga Sheriff’s Deputies.
According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Ovitt allegedly threatened to kill the victim and sent them a photo of a rifle. When Deputies went to arrest Ovitt, he resisted arrest.
After his arrest, a search of Ovitt’s residence found the rifle he allegedly sent a photo of and two large-capacity magazines. The investigation by the Sheriff’s Office revealed that Ovitt was legally not allowed to possess weapons due to a prior court order.
Ovitt was charged with felony 2nd degree possession of a weapon, four counts of felony 3rd degree criminal possession of a weapon, misdemeanor 2nd degree aggravated harassment, misdemeanor 2nd degree obstructing governmental administration, misdemeanor 2nd degree resisting arrest and misdemeanor resisting arrest.
Ovitt was arraigned in Greenfield Town Court and remanded into the custody of the Saratoga County Jail pending further proceedings.
A Gloversville man has been arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly being caught with stolen trading cards.
Stashu Roberts, 29, was arrested on Feb. 22 and charged with felony 3rd degree possession of stolen property and misdemeanor fostering the sale of stolen goods.
According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Roberts is alleged to have been in possession of 105 Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards when he tried to sell them in Malta on Feb. 1.
Roberts was arraigned and remanded into custody pending further proceedings.
Food seller Aldi has issued a product recall for thousands of pounds of contaminated meatballs. (Courtesy of USDA)
News- Bad Balls2 – Food seller Aldi has issued a product recall for thousands of pounds of contaminated meatballs. (Courtesy of USDA)
Food seller Aldi has issued a recall for Bremer Italian Style Meatballs after they were found to have metal in them.
The recall was issued on Feb. 22 and applies to 32-oz. packages of meatballs with a best-buy date of Oct. 30, 2026 and a print time of 17:08- 18:20. According to the US Department of Agriculture, 9,462 pounds of meatballs produced on July 30, 2025 were possibly contaminated. The meatballs are made by Rosina foods in West Seneca, NY and packaged as “Bremer Family Size Italian Style Meatballs.”
According to Aldi, the meatballs were sold in 37 states and territories across the US — including New York. Consumers who have purchased the meatballs are advised to throw them away or bring them back to Aldi for a refund.
The USDA said that there have been no confirmed injuries or illnesses related to the contaminated meatballs.
