Case against postal employee moves to higher court

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September 10, 2010

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG Staff Writer The Press Republican Fri Sep 10, 2010, 10:31 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — A veteran U.S. Postal Service mail carrier has again pleaded not guilty to allegations that he stole mail along his former route.

Gregory O'Connell has been facing felony charges since mid May, when a six-month investigation ended in his arrest after he was allegedly caught pocketing gift cards and other pieces of mail.

Recently, the case against the 52-year-old Plattsburgh man was moved to Clinton County Court, where O'Connell pleaded not guilty to four counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

He will remain free on $5,000 bail and is due back in court for a conference Sept. 23.

At the time of his arrest, police said O'Connell was suspected of stealing mail, mostly gift cards, for about five years during his deliveries around Plattsburgh State and the West End of the city.

He became the focus of a multi-agency investigation after authorities were contacted about a missing Walmart gift card.

O'Connell, who was suspended following his arrest, faces several years in prison if convicted.

He is being represented by attorney Stephen Johnston.

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at: avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com