October 22, 2010

            PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    

              District Attorney Gwen Wilkinson announced today that a woman from Coopers Plain, NY, was convicted of Resisting Arrest following a two-day jury trial in Groton Town Court.

              Ellyn L. Williams, 28, of Coopers Plains, New York, was convicted of one count of Resisting Arrest related to her arrest on April 13, 2010, in the Town of Groton.  On April 13, 2010, officers from the Groton Police Department and deputies from the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call seeking help related to a fight over an alcoholic beverage.  The police officers that responded to the call for help observed Ms. Williams to be highly intoxicated and uncooperative.  Ms. Williams resisted arrest and spit in the face of the responding officers.  Following two evenings of trial testimony the six person jury returned a guilty verdict shortly after 11:00 pm on October 20, 2010.  The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes.

              The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Andrew Bonavia.  Ithaca attorney Kristine Shaw defended Ms. Williams through the Tompkins County Assigned Counsel Office.  The Honorable John Norman presided over the trial.  Sentencing is scheduled for December.