Prison Sentence in Domestic Assault and Jail Assault

DELHI – On January 21, 2025, Dakota Mann, 23, of Walton appeared in Delaware County Court, and was sentenced to an indeterminate prison term of between two and four years for the crime of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, and an additional year for the crime of Assault in the Third Degree.

On May 17, 2024, Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched by 911 to a residence in the Town of Walton for an ongoing domestic. The caller stated that they had, along with another individual, been assaulted by Mr. Mann. The caller stated the assault was ongoing on the other unnamed victim and requested help. Members of the Walton Police Department and the New York State Police responded along with the Deputies. After an investigation, it was determined there was an existing order of protection for one of the unnamed victims. Dakota Mann was placed under arrest and charged with both Criminal Contempt and with Assault. 

Subsequently, Mr. Mann was remanded to the custody of the Delaware County Correctional Facility. On July 1, 2024, while incarcerated, Mr. Mann assaulted a fellow inmate at the jail causing injury. Investigator Cody Tromblee was assigned, and after an investigation, charged Mr. Mann with Assault in the Second Degree. 

Pursuant to a negotiated agreement, Mr. Mann appeared on October 7, 2024, and pled guilty to Criminal Contempt in the First Degree and Assault in the Third Degree. Subsequently, Mr. Mann was alleged to have assaulted a Corrections Officer at the Delaware County Correctional Facility causing his plea agreement for a lesser sentence to be vacated.

On January 21, 2025, Mr. Mann appeared for sentencing before the Honorable John L. Hubbard, Delaware County Court Judge.  Per the parties’ agreement, the sentencing recommendation was increased to an indeterminate two-to-four-year sentence. 

First Assistant District Attorney Schuyler Konior Kinneman noted that this marked the fourth felony conviction on Mr. Mann’s record. For someone so young to have so many, he stated, “was deeply concerning.”

After hearing First ADA Konior Kinneman’s remarks, and after Mr. Mann gave a statement, Judge Hubbard imposed the agreed upon sentence. 

Delaware County District Attorney Shawn Smith thanked law enforcement for their actions in the case. “I want to thank Corporal Kyle Karcher and Deputy Timothy Tryon of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Trooper Corey King of the New York State Police, Chief Joseph D’Addezio and Sergeant Devin Dunphy of the Walton Police Department for their quick reaction on the night of May 17, 2024. I also want to thank Investigator Cody Tromblee of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office for his investigation into the jail assault.

D.A. Smith continued, “This prison sentence reflects our office’s position that domestic violence has no place in Delaware County. An order of protection is not a suggestion, and Mr. Mann’s repeated behavior will result in only more prison time. Violence in our community is never acceptable, and neither is it acceptable in our jail. It cost Mr. Mann an additional year of his life. If he, or anyone in the jail, believes we’ll ignore this sort of behavior, they are gravely mistaken.”

First Assistant District Attorney Schuyler Konior Kinneman prosecuted both cases.