Grand Jury Indictments for March and April 2026

District Attorney, Ashley E. Smith, announced today that the following people were indicted by the Cattaraugus County Grand Jury for the month of April 2026:

City of Salamanca, New York - Andrew C. Skye was indicted on March 26, 2026, for the crimes of Strangulation in the First Degree (Class C Felony) and Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class D Felony). The indictment states that on or about September 26, 2025, Skye obstructed breathing or blood circulation and thereby caused serious physical injury to such person and stole property and the value of the property exceeded three thousand dollars.

City of Salamanca, New York - Bransin R. John was indicted on March 26, 2026, for the crimes of Burglary in the Third Degree (Class D Felony), Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree (Class E Felony), and Petit Larceny (Class A Misdemeanor). The indictment states that on or about July 12, 2024, John knowingly entered or remained unlawfully in a building with intent to commit a crime, with intent to damage property of another person and having no right to do so, damaged property of another in an amount exceeding two hundred fifty dollars, and stole property.

Town of Yorkshire, New York - Zackry J. Sawyer (DOB 01/13/1998, age 28) was indicted on April 23, 2026, for the crime of Rape in the Second Degree (Class D Felony). The indictment states that on or about and between January 4, 2026, and January 9, 2026, Sawyer being eighteen years old or more, engaged in vaginal sexual contact with another person less than fifteen years old.

City of Olean, New York - Gary C. Coleman was indicted on April 23, 2026, for the crimes of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the First Degree (Class E Felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (Class B Felony), and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (Class B Felony). The indictment states that on or about October 12, 2025, Coleman operated a motor vehicle when he or had reason to know that his license or privilege to drive was suspended or revoked. The indictment also states that on or about July 10, 2025 Coleman knowingly and unlawfully possessed a narcotic drug with intent to sell it, and knowingly and unlawfully sold narcotic drug.

Town of Randolph, New York - Lionel R. Luper was indicted on April 23, 2026, for the crimes of Sex Offender Registry Violation [Failure to submit annual verification] (Class D Felony), Burglary in the Second Degree (Class C Felony), Menacing a Police Officer (Class D Felony), two counts Menacing a Police Officer (Class D Felony), and five counts Menacing in the Second Degree (Class A Misdemeanor). The indictment states that on or about February 11, 2026 Luper, a registered sex offender, failed to register during the period in which he is required to register. On or about March 16, 2026, Luper, in effecting entry or while in the building or in the immediate flight therefrom, he participated in a crime, threatening the immediate use of a dangerous instrument, intentionally placed or attempted to place a police office in reasonable fear of physical injury, serious injury or death by displaying a knife while such officer was in the course of preforming official duties and knew or reasonably should have known that such victim was a police officer, intentionally placed or attempted to place another person in reasonable fear of physical injury, serious physical injury or death by displaying a deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or what appears to be a pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, or other firearm.

City of Salamanca, New York - Tyson D. Brown was indicted on April 23, 2026, for crimes of Strangulation in the Second Degree (Class D Felony), Assault in the Third Degree (Class A Misdemeanor), Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second Degree (Class A Misdemeanor), and Menacing in the Third Degree (Class B Misdemeanor). The indictment states that on or about February 22, 2026, Brown applied pressure on the throat or neck of another person thereby causing stupor, loss of consciousness, or other physical injury or impairment, Brown with intent to cause physical injury to another person, he caused such injury to person, restrained another person, under circumstances which expose the latter to a risk of serious physical injury, and intentionally placed or attempted to place another person in fear of death, imminent serious physical injury or physical injury.

City of Olean, New York - Layton T. Walker was indicted on April 23, 2026, for the crimes of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (Class B Felony), Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (Class A Misdemeanor), Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree (Class A Misdemeanor). And Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree (Class A Misdemeanor). The indictment states that on or about November 15, 2025, Walker knowingly and unlawfully possessed a narcotic drug with intent to sell it, knowingly and unlawfully possessed a controlled substance, knowingly possessed material suitable for packaging of individual quantities of narcotic drugs for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, packaging or dispensing of any narcotic drug and possessed scales and balances used or designed for the purpose of weighing or measuring controlled substances for purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, packaging or dispensing of any narcotic drug or stimulant

Cattaraugus County District Attorney's Office