top of page
Search

FELONY ARREST IN THE TOWN OF AVON

  • Jul 27
  • 2 min read
AVON - Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of a Steuben County resident on felony and misdemeanor charges following a traffic stop by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
AVON - Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty reports the arrest of a Steuben County resident on felony and misdemeanor charges following a traffic stop by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.

On July 26th, 2026 Deputy Jerry Pilkenton, who is assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Highway Patrol Unit, conducted a traffic stop on Lakeville Road in the Town of Avon after observing a violation of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.  Contact was made with the operator of the vehicle as well as a passenger who was identified as 66-year-old Shawn Murphy of Hornell.  The Deputy suspected that there was drug activity in the vehicle and conducted a roadside drug investigation.

During the investigation, Murphy was found to be in possession of both cocaine and methamphetamine.  It is also alleged that Murphy attempted to discard and conceal evidence inside the vehicle in an attempt to prevent the Sheriff’s Office from discovering it.

Murphy was arrested and charged with two counts of felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, two counts of felony Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, felony Tampering with Physical Evidence and misdemeanor Obstructing Governmental Administration in the Second Degree.

The operator of the vehicle was issued Uniform Traffic Tickets for violations of the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law.

Murphy was transported and turned over to Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston County Jail for processing and pre-arraignment detention.  He was later arraigned at the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part (LC-CAP) at the Livingston County Jail before Town of Nunda Justice Morris.  The Judge did remand Murphy to the Custody of the Sheriff without the possibility of bail as he does have a prior felony conviction and the current charge of a class A-II felony.The Livingston County Public Defender’s Office was present and represented Murphy at the court arraignment for his defense. The Livingston County District Attorney’s Office also appeared to represent the People. 

Assisting with the investigation for the Sheriff’s Office were members of the Patrol Division and the Criminal Investigations Division.


 
 
bottom of page