Too Many Charges Lead to Deadlock in Troy’s Trial & More in Today’s News

Rensselaer - Special Prosecutor Trey Smith met with jurors after a mistrial was announced in the nine-week long ballot-fraud trial.  The jurors’ comments were backed by a 2002 report from the national center for State Courts.  The report found one of the strongest factors leading jurors to deadlock is having too many counts to consider.  The two defendants faced 103 counts total.

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Bethlehem - An Albany member of the National Guard is accused of soliciting money to help troops, but then pocketed the money.  20-year old Robert Conde went door to door in Colonie and Bethlehem asking residents for money.  Bethlehem police are asking anyone who may have donated money to Conde to contact them at 518-439-9973.

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Albany - Despite St. Patrick’s Day falling on Saturday, police will begin their crackdown on drunk driving tonight.  Police across the state will start blanketing the roads as part of their Sober Driver initiative.  Police will even step up patrols on the Thruway until Sunday.  Last year’s initiative resulted in 20 DWI arrests. 

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North Country - An 18-year old college student is missing in the area of Tupper Lake.  Colin Gillis is a student at SUNY Brockport and returned home for spring break.  He was last seen walking on Route 3 near Tupper Lake Sunday morning.  Anyone with any information is asked to call local authorities.