Mayor pleads 'not guilty' in Monticello

By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — June 11, 2010 — Monticello Mayor Gordon Jenkins pled not guilty on Wednesday to felony and misdemeanor counterfeit charges lodged against him by a Sullivan County grand jury and the District Attorney’s Office.
His partner, Rochelle Massey, had already pled not guilty to the same charges the week before.
An investigation earlier this year at his home and Broadway business, G-Men Beauty Supply, revealed fake Nike sneakers, pirated DVDs and a small amount of marijuana, according to DA Jim Farrell.
Jenkins and Massey are accused of selling the Nikes and not collecting sales tax during the transactions, among other charges.
Jenkins and his attorney, Donald Feerick Jr., appeared in front of Sullivan County Court Judge Frank LaBuda on Wednesday to answer those charges, with Feerick also asking the judge to remove Farrell from the case.
Jenkins and several of his supporters have expressed the belief that his arrest was politically motivated, coming days before a village election that ultimately handed majority control of the board to Jenkins.
Farrell was not present at Wednesday’s court appearance, but he later told the Democrat that the case has been – and will continue to be – handled ethically and appropriately.
“He was investigated because it was brought to light that there were criminal acts occurring,” Farrell explained. “There was no political motivation behind the arrest whatsoever.”
Motions are now being filed, with a deadline of July 19, said Farrell.
In the meantime, Jenkins said he has work to do.
“I’m just continuing doing my job in the village as mayor. It’s my job to get this village on track,” he said on Wednesday. “I’m not guilty, and I’ll have my day in court.”