Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a Town of Kent man on a charge of criminal contempt.

On June 16, 2016, Deputy Sheriff William Rossiter was assigned to investigate a report of a criminal contempt. A female complainant had reported that her ex-husband, identified as Steven Wechter, 35, of 150 Horsepond Road, Kent had sent her an email and had attempted to place calls to her cell phone on two occasions. This alleged conduct was in clear violation of a Putnam County Family Court-issued order of protection the woman holds against Mr. Wechter. Later that day, the deputy located Mr. Wechter at the Home Depot store located at 80 Independent Way in the Town of Southeast. The deputy arrested Mr. Wechter and charged him with Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree , a misdemeanor. The defendant was processed at the Putnam County Correctional Facility and held pending arraignment.

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.