New charges and two new arrests in the case of a former Geneva Police Officer accused of selling Adderall while on duty in April. Michael Tapscott was arraigned on Wednesday on six felony counts each of criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance, along with eight counts of misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance, 11 counts of official misconduct, and one count of petit larceny.
Ontario County Sheriff David Cirencione said the evidence showed a pattern of troubling behavior by Tapscott.
“He was regularly soliciting other members of the police department and members of the community to purchase or sell controlled substances while he was both on and off duty,” said Cirencione at a Wednesday afternoon news conference.
Sgt. David Felice, a 19-year veteran with the Geneva Police Department, and William McGowan, an associate of Tapscott, were each charged with a felony count of tampering with physical evidence. Cirencione explained what led to the tampering charges.
“Tampering with evidence, I can tell you, is related to their deleting or attempting to delete messages that were between them and Tapscott in relation to exchanges of pills.”
Felice, who remains on administrative leave, was also charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and official misconduct. All three men were released on appearance tickets.
Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan was appointed special prosecutor in the case following a disclosure by then-Ontario County District Attorney James Ritts that Jason MacBride had exchanged text messages with Tapscott in an attempt to seek endorsements from Tapscott and the Geneva Police Department for his District Attorney campaign. According to Ritts, the text exchanges took place over several months before Tapscott’s arrest on May 7th.
Chief Eveland released a statement regarding the arrests:
Press Release 10.22.25
Sheriff Cirencione’s entire statement is available below:
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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