Massachusetts teen charged with possessing stolen UTV

New Lebanon, New York – On May 15, 2017, New York State Police from the  New Lebanon barracks, in conjunction with the SP Livingston Bureau of Criminal Investigation, charged 17-year-old Justin J. French of Chickopee, Massachusetts, with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 3^rd Degree, a Class D Felony.

On the aforementioned date, Troopers received a report of a 2017 side by side Kawasaki Mule abandoned in a drainage ditch located on the side of Old Route 20.  Members of New Lebanon responded to the location and observed that the mule had been damaged following a crash which caused front-end damage.  With no driver around the UTV, troopers commenced an investigation to locate the owner of the $11,000 mule.  The ensuing investigation revealed that French possessed the UTV which was stolen from the Pittsfield area.

French was arraigned in the Town of New Lebanon Justice Court and released.  He is due to reappear in New Lebanon Court on May 18, 2017.