Luis Mojica-Castro

MAYVILLE – A Jamestown man accused of setting a woman on fire in late 2017 has been sentenced to 21 years in state prison.

Chautauqua County District Attorney Patrick Swanson says 38-year-old Luis Castro-Mojica was sentenced Monday in county court after he pleaded guilty in January to first-degree assault. Castro-Mojica was arrested in December 2017 for setting a woman on fire during a domestic incident.

The woman received burns to her face, head and torso and was taken to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo where she remained in critical condition for an extended time.

“First and foremost, I want to thank the Jamestown Police Department for their outstanding work on this case,” Swanson said in a statement. “The quick response of every officer involved in this case needs to be commended. [Assistant District Attorney] Lynn Schaffer prosecuted this case for my office and her close work with the family and the resolution she worked tirelessly for evinces the effort she put in on this case. I want to thank her for her extraordinary work.”

“This case reminds us of the evil doers that law enforcement is there to protect us from and bring to justice,” Swanson added. “The actions of this man were inconceivable and leave us wondering why a person would do this to another person. But it also reminds us that there are good guys wearing blue that go to work for us every day to protect our families. Their quick response in this case has resulted in the elimination of a real danger to our society for the next 21 years. My hope is that this man does not have the opportunity to harm anyone again.”

Rasul Bonds

JAMESTOWN – A Jamestown man has been indicted on three counts of attempted murder and one count of first degree assault following an investigation into the drive-by shooting that took place on the north side of town at the end of January.

City police say a Chautauqua County grand jury indicted 30-year-old Rasul Bonds on Monday.

The indictment comes following a lengthy investigation into the early morning shooting on Jan. 30 at the corner of North Main and West Ninth Streets in which one person was shot in the face. The victim was taken to UPMC Hamot for serious injuries but an update on their condition hasn’t been provided.

City police believe the parties involved knew each other and the shooting was the result of an“an ongoing dispute.”

Bonds is currently in the Chautauqua County jail with bail set at $150,000.

Marylou Johnson

JAMESTOWN – New York State Police in Jamestown have announced an arrest connected to the discovery of a body in April in a rural area of the Town of Randolph, Cattaraugus County. 

Authorities say the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) have arrested 73-year-old Marylou Johnson of Busti on charges of Manslaughter – 2^nd degree (class C felony), Vehicular Manslaughter – 2^nd degree (class D felony), Assault – 2^nd degree (class D felony), Driving While Intoxicated (class D felony), and Leaving the scene of an incident without reporting serious physical injury (class D felony).

On April 21, 2018, the State Police stationed out of Jamestown responded to Swanson Hill Road in the Town of Randolph, Cattaraugus County for a report of an unidentified deceased male who was discovered by a passing ATV rider. Further investigation revealed the victim to be Wilfredo Rodriguez-Colon, age 48, of Busti.

Police say the investigation of Rodriguez – Colon’s death included a detailed examination of the scene and interviews of the people who were with Colon when he was last seen. The interviews and evidence collected from the scene lead investigators to a vehicle that is alleged to have been involved in his death.

After further investigation and interviews were conducted, the case was presented to the Grand Jury in Cattaraugus County by the Cattaraugus County District Attorney’s Office. A warrant was then issued for the arrest of Johnson on September 19.

Johnson was arrested and processed at SP Jamestown. Johnson was scheduled to be arraigned in Cattaraugus County Court on Friday.

Police charged 30 year-old Kellie Gentz of Tidioute with a felony count of acquiring controlled substances by misrepresentation as well as misdemeanor charges including five counts of possession of a controlled substance and single counts of neglect of care for a dependent person, simple assault, theft by unlawful taking and recklessly endangering another person.

The charges came after an investigation at the Kinzua Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office and the Warren County District Attorney.

Gentz was sent to jail on $50,000 bail, with a preliminary hearing date for September 12.

Luis Mojica-Castro

MAYVILLE – The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting that the attempted murder trial against a city man accused of dousing a woman with flammable material and setting her on fire has been postponed.

Jury selection was set to begin Tuesday in Chautauqua County Court for 38-year-old Luis Castro-Mojica, who police say set the female victim on fire during a domestic incident last December at a Thayer Street home.

Castro-Mojica was indicted by a grand jury on charges of second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault.

The trial was adjourned due to illness by the defense attorney, who has since recused himself from the case. Castro-Mojica is now being represented by Lakewood attorney Lyle Hajdu.

A new trial date has not been announced.

David Waggoner

UPDATED 12:50 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Jamestown Police are reporting that the victim in Tuesday morning’s west side shooting as died as a result of his injuries. A media release sent out Wednesday afternoon says the victim, whose name has not been released, was removed from life support at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday. Charges of 2nd degree Murder are now pending for the suspect, 54-year-old David Waggoner.

An autopsy will be completed on Thursday at the Erie County Medical Examiners Office to determine the exact cause of death.

[Original Story  – published 8:39 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25, 2018]

City Man Arrested Following Shooting on City’s West Side

JAMESTOWN – Jamestown Police have charged a city man with attempted murder and 1st degree assault following a shooting incident that took place just before 9 a.m. Tuesday on the city’s west side.

Police say 54-year-old David Waggoner was taken into custody not long after officers were called to 114 Livingston Ave. for a reported fight. When officers arrived they found a man lying in the street with a gunshot wound to the head.

The victim was rushed to UPMC hospital in Erie, where he is listed in critical condition. Police have not released the victim’s name, nor details on a possible motive.

Waggoner was being held at the Jamestown City Jail until he could be arraigned in city court.

Jamestown police were assisted at the scene by members of the Ellicott Police Department and Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.

Michael Culbertson

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Police Department has arrested a second suspect as part of the investigation into a home invasion that took place last week on the city’s south side.

Police say 31 year-old Michael Culbertson has been charged with first-degree assault, stemming from the home invasion that took place just after 2 a.m. at 322 Newland Ave.

The incident, which was a targeted assault, left the male victim with serious injuries. At last word he was still hospitalized in critical condition at UPMC Hamot in Erie.

Culbertson’s arrest follows the arrest of 33-year-old Dacien Devault, who was also charged with first-degree assault.

JPD Captian Robert Samuelson said Monday’s attack was targeted. The motive behind the incident has not been made public. Police say several individuals were involved in the incident and the investigation continues.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 483-7537 or leave an anonymous tip at 483-8477.

Dacien Devault

JAMESTOWN – City police have arrested one suspect allegedly involved in a south-side home invasion/assault early Monday morning, but are continuing to look for other suspects also involved in the case.

According to a media release, 33 year-old Dacien Devault was charged with first-degree assault in connection to the home invasion and assault that took place at 322 Newland Ave. around 2 a.m. Monday.

The incident – which police say was not random but targeted – involved a male victim being struck in the head several times with an object causing serious injury to his head. He was taken to UPMC Chautauqua WCA and later UPMC Hamot Hospital in Erie, Pa., where he remained in critical condition as of Tuesday.

At least one round from a handgun was also fired in the incident.

Police say the investigation has revealed multiple other suspects were involved and are still at large.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Jamestown Police Department at 483-7537 or through the department’s anonymous tip line at 483-8477.

According to a media release from JPD Capt. Robert Samuelson, police were called to 322 Newland Ave. just after 2 a.m. Monday and found a male victim who had a serious cut on his head. According to police, he claimed people entered his home and hit him several times in the head with an object. Police say at least one round was fired from a handgun during the incident.

The victim was taken to UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital and then to the Hamot Medical Center for further treatment of a serious head injury.

Anyone with information into the incident can call 483-7537 or call the Jamestown Police Department’s anonymous tip line at 483-8477 or use the Tips 411 app. All calls will be kept confidential.

According to a media release, 34 year-old Richard Pryll-Simpson was arrested Thursday following an investigation into the incident that occurred earlier in the day.

According to police, volunteer firefighters from Sinclairville were called to 40 East Ave at 11 a.m. Thursday for a report of an 18-month-old child with an unknown medical issue. The child was taken to UPMC Chautauqua WCA Hospital and later flown to Buffalo Children’s Hospital.

After investigating the incident and learning the extent of the child’s injuries, Pryll-Simpson was charged with first-degree assault. He was listed as the child’s custodial parent.

Pryll-Simpson was arraigned in Cherry Creek Town Court and sent to the Chautauqua County Jail on $200,000 cash bail.

The investigation is continuing.