Guilty Plea in Drug Dealing Case

DELHI – Thomas Stanley, 45, of South New Berlin, New York appeared in Delaware County Court on January 21, 2025, before the Honorable John L. Hubbard, and pleaded guilty to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class C Felony.

On April 30, 2023, Officers Terry and Petersen of the Sidney Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a vehicle equipment violation. Upon stopping the vehicle, four individuals were identified including Thomas Stanley. As the officers were processing identification, it was discovered that the driver, Thomas Wright, was the subject of an Order of Protection granted to a separate passenger of the vehicle. Pursuant to office policy, this individual is not being named. Officers requested Mr. Wright step out of the vehicle and impounded the car.  

After impounding the vehicle, Officers secured a search warrant from the Village of Sidney Court to search the vehicle. Upon searching the trunk, officers discovered a black lock box that was unlocked. Officers discovered what was later confirmed by lab analysis to be heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine packaged for sale. Subsequently, Thomas Stanley and Thomas Wright were indicted by the Delaware County Grand Jury and charged with six counts of drug- related felonies.

Over the course of Mr. Stanley’s case, numerous bench warrants were issued for his arrest due to his continual failure to appear in Court when ordered to do so. Mr. Stanley also failed to appear at two separate jury trial dates, causing them to be postponed. On January 10, 2025, Thomas Stanley was apprehended and remanded without bail.

On January 21, 2025, Thomas Stanley appeared before the Delaware County Court and entered a guilty plea to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. It is anticipated per a negotiated agreement, that Mr. Stanley will be sentenced to a determinate prison term of four (4) years to be followed by two (2) years of post-release supervision.

District Attorney Shawn Smith commended law enforcement for their actions in the case, “I want to acknowledge Officers Terry and Petersen of the Sidney Village Police for their actions on April 30, 2023. Because of their hard work, a drug dealer is going to prison.”

DA Smith continued, “This case lingered far longer than was necessary. Thomas Stanley is and was a flight risk from the beginning of this case. At two separate times, juries were summoned to hear the evidence against him and each time Mr. Stanley refused to appear. It was only his repeated refusal, that a bench warrant was finally issued, and Stanley was eventually put in jail. Our position is that drug dealers like Stanley should be in jail while their cases are pending. Mr. Stanley serves as a cautionary tale as only months after his arrest, he was charged again with drug offenses in Chenango County. Bail Reform needs to be reformed so that drug dealers are not skipping across county lines without a care in the world.”

As are all defendants, this defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.