Three Walton Residents Arrested on Drug Charges

WALTON — Sheriff Craig S. DuMond announced the arrest of three Walton residents on drug charges following the execution of a search warrant.

 On Thursday, October 23rd, at about 8:15pm, Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an address in the Town of Walton to execute a bench warrant issued by the Delaware County Court, for Luke J. Lupo, for his failure to appear in Court. 

Upon their arrival at the residence, three individuals were present and identified as 47-year-old Luke J. Lupo, 43-year-old John L. Whiteside Jr, and 45-year-old Melissa A. Knorr, all of Walton, New York. Deputies determined that Whiteside had active charges with the Town of Colchester Police Department for unrelated charges in connection with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property.

 During the investigation, Deputies observed multiple items of drug paraphernalia at the scene consistent with illicit narcotics use and narcotics possession. Members of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene to assist with the investigation, and later, investigators applied to the Town of Walton Court for a search warrant for the residence. 

On 10/24/2025, shortly after 2:00am, Deputies and Investigators executed the search warrant at the residence. At the conclusion of the search, multiple items containing a crystal type substance were located, along with multiple items of drug paraphernalia. Investigators say that the crystal type substance was later field tested and was positively identified as Methamphetamine. 

Upon conclusion of the investigation, Lupo, Whiteside, and Knorr were arrested, and each were charged with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance -7th Degree. 

Lupo was transported to the Delaware County Jail and held pending his arraignment at County Court on the bench warrant and the three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance -7th Degree.

Whiteside was turned over to the Town of Colchester Police Department for arrest processing on unrelated charges.  Upon completion, he was transported to the Delaware County Jail where he was held pending arraignment at CAP Court on the unrelated charges and the three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree. 

Knorr was charged with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree and upon completion of arrest processing, she was released on an appearance ticket to reappear at a later date to answer the charges.