HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WETM) – The Yates County District Attorney announced 18 people have been indicted on sex trafficking and rape charges involving the same minor. Prosecutors say the abuse lasted for seven years. In a statement, District Attorney Todd Casella said “the victim was removed from an extremely unsafe environment.”
The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations (NYSP BCI) based in Horseheads says it started an investigation into Andrew Daugherty of Dundee, New York, October 13, 2022. The indictment accuses Daugherty of raping a girl who was under 13-years-old while threatening her with a rifle.
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 3rd Degree (D Felony), Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony), Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony).
According to New York State Police, Daugherty and 17 others abused the same victim over the span of seven years, at various locations in Yates County and the Southern Tier.
Yates County District Attorney Todd Casella sent the following statement to 18 News:
In October of 2022, the New York State Police received information that a minor female child was subjected to a sexual assault. Through extensive investigation conducted by the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation stationed at SP Horseheads, and with the assistance from the New York State Police Computer Crime Unit, the Yates County District Attorney’s Office, and the Yates County Department of Social Services, information was developed concerning allegations of sexual abuse occurring over several years and the abuse is alleged to have occurred in various locations in Yates and the southern tier. Eighteen (18) individuals have been arrested and suspects from numerous regions of New York State, and one as far as the State of Florida, have been charged. Several of the defendants are awaiting court proceedings, while a number of other individuals have already plead guilty by Superior Court Informations.
Due to the age of the victim, the nature of the crimes, and the pending status of numerous court proceedings, no further information will be released at this time.
Todd J. Casella – Yates County District Attorney
The investigation was a joint effort between New York State Police, 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
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 of Starkey, New York
– Micheleine Ridley of Starkey, New York
– Michael Gucciardo of Bath, New York
– Tiffany Jamieson of Binghamton, New York
– Ashley Crandall of Corning, New York
– Mary Diederich of Elmira, New York
– Richard Tallarida of Elmira, New York
– Anthony Hawn of Holly Hills, Florida (formerly of Elmira, New York)
Micheleine Ridley was indicted for Predatory Sexual Assault against a Child and Tampering with Physical Evidence (E Felony).
Daugherty was also charged as a co-defendant for aiding and abetting Michael Gucciardo in the commission of Rape 1st Degree (B Felony), Criminal Sexual Act 1st Degree (B Felony), Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony), Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony), Rape 3rd Degree (E Felony), and Criminal Sexual Act 3rd 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 1st Degree (B Felony); Anthony Hawn with Rape 2nd Degree (D Felony) and Criminal Sexual Act 2nd Degree (D Felony); Mary Diederich with Criminal Sexual Act 1st Degree (B Felony) and 3rd Degree (E Felony), Aggravated Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree (C Felony), Sexual Abuse 1st 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 2nd Degree (D Felony); and Richard Tallarida with Criminal Sexual Act 2nd Degree (D Felony), Rape 2nd 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 Grand Jury and those include: Brittany Skinkle of Elmira, New York plead guilty on March 13, 2023 to one count of Criminal Sexual Act 1st Degree (B Felony) and faces a sentence of between 3.5 – 5 years in a New York State Correctional Facility (NYSCF) plus 10 years Post Release Supervision (PRS) on June 6, 2023; Gregory Scears of Elmira, New York plead guilty on March 13, 2023 to one count of Rape 3rd Degree (E Felony) and faces a sentence of no more than 3 years in a NYSCF plus 10 years PRS on June 6, 2023; Summer Elliott of Elmira, New York plead guilty on February 14, 2023 to one count of Criminal Sexual Act 2nd 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 2 – 6 years for the Use of a Child charge and no more than 5 years plus 10 years PRS on the Criminal Sexual Act 2nd; on April 25, 2023, Steven Sherman of Elmira, New York plead guilty on February 14, 2023 to one count of Rape 3rd Degree (E Felony) and faces a sentence of no more than 2 years in a NYSCF plus 10 years PRS on April 25, 2023; Kayla Montgomery of Olean, New York plead guilty on April 10, 2023 to one count of Criminal Sexual Act 1st Degree (B Felony) and faces a sentence of between 3.5 – 5 years in a NYSCF plus 10 years PRS on July 11, 2023.
Additionally, Zackery Crissell of Elmira, New York has been charged with Rape 2nd Degree (D Felony) and Criminal Sexual Act 2nd Degree (D Felony), and Wayne Niles of Elmira, New York has been charged with Rape 2nd Degree (D Felony), Ashley Shaffer has been charged with two counts of Criminal Sexual Act 2nd Degree (D Felony), Aaron Labar of Prattsburgh, New York was charged with Sexual Abuse 1st Degree (D Felony) but the charges have been returned to local Court and will be amended to Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree (A Misdemeanor), and Stephanie Ridley of Starkey, New York has been charged with Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance (C Felony) and Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child (D Felony).
