A Penn Yan man who failed to appear for sentencing was taken into custody Wednesday after leading authorities on a foot pursuit.
Joshua Woodruff was scheduled to be sentenced in Yates County Court on Tuesday on multiple charges of possession of an obscene sexual performance by a child. After failing to report to court, it is alleged that the 37-year-old Penn Yan man staged a possible suicide scene that night in an attempt to elude capture and flee the state.
On Wednesday, Penn Yan Police received a tip that Woodruff was hiding in a wooded area near South Avenue. When officers attempted to take Woodruff into custody, he fled on foot armed with a fixed-blade knife. To assist in Woodruff’s capture, State Police and the Yates County Sheriff’s Office sent manpower, a drone, and a K9 tracking dog. Woodruff was later found hiding in a large outdoor storage building and taken into custody.
Woodruff was charged by Penn Yan Police with obstruction of governmental administration and then turned over to New York State Police on the bench warrant for failing to appear at sentencing.
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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