FELONY ARREST IN THE TOWN OF AVON

INTERSTATE 390 - Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of two Steuben County residents on felony and misdemeanor charges following an investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.

On June 1^st, 2026 Investigator Shawn Whitford was assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Highway Patrol Unit when he conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 390 in the Town of Avon for a violation of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic law. The Investigator suspected that there was drug activity in the vehicle and conducted a drug investigation.

The roadside investigation revealed that the operator, 61-year-old Laverne Henry and a passenger, 52-year-old Melissa Pitcher, both of Canisteo NY, were in possession of crack cocaine. 

Pitcher was arrested and charged with felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree.

Henry was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree, and violations of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.

Henry was issued an appearance ticket for his charges and given a court date to appear at the Town Court of Avon on his charges.

Pitcher was transported and turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for arrest processing and pre-arraignment detention. Pitcher was later arraigned at the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part (LC-CAP) at the Livingston County Jail before Village of Caledonia Justice MacKay. The Judge did release Pitcher on her own recognizance as the offenses do not qualify for bail under the NYS Bail Reform Act.

The Livingston County Public Defender’s Office was present and represented Pitcher at the court arraignment for her defense. The Livingston County District Attorney’s Office also appeared to represent the People.

Assisting with the investigation were Sheriff’s Deputies Jerry Pilkenton, Matthew VanCuran and Emma Bondgren.