Putnam Valley Man Faces Drug Charge

Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a Putnam Valley man on a drug possession charge.

On December 21, 2015 at 12:02 a.m., Deputy Sheriff William Verrastro stopped a motorist who had committed a traffic violation on Oscawana Lake Road in the Town of Putnam Valley. The deputy determined that the driver, identified as Christopher J. Betz, 24, of 35 Unadilla Road, Putnam Valley was in possession of a controlled substance. The deputy arrested Mr. Betz and charged him with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a misdemeanor. The defendant was processed at the Putnam County Correctional Facility and released in his own recognizance pending a January 14, 2016 appearance in the Town of Putnam Valley Justice Court to answer the charge.

If found guilty of the misdemeanor charge, the defendant could face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.00.