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Massena radio personality's drug case awaits assignment of prosecutor

Posted 6/3/16

Updated June 3 5:31 p.m. “We don’t have a plea offer from the district attorney. We haven’t had an opportunity to speak about Sandy’s case. The assistant district attorney (assigned to the …

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Massena radio personality's drug case awaits assignment of prosecutor

Posted

Updated June 3 5:31 p.m.

“We don’t have a plea offer from the district attorney. We haven’t had an opportunity to speak about Sandy’s case. The assistant district attorney (assigned to the case) is leaving office … we’re not sure who’s going to be assigned,” Cook’s attorney Edward Narrow said.

Despite that, Narrow doesn’t think the case is at a halt.

“I wouldn’t say it’s stalled. It’s a normal course of prosecution where you make multiple appearances … we’re looking forward to the opportunity to discuss merits of the case with the DA’s office as the case moves its way through the court system.”

The ADA assigned to the case was Sarah Clothier, whose resignation was announced in late May.

“With no plea offer … it would be against my advice to go in and just plead to the charge,” Narrow said.

Cook and a co-defendant, Edward Slade, were charged Feb. 12 after village police raided their 96 Cook St. residence.

A search warrant turned up heroin, crack cocaine and hypodermic needles, police said at the time.[img_assist|nid=172611|title=Edward Slade|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=175|height=197]

They were each charged with one count of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.

About two weeks later on Feb. 27, Massena Police charged Hannah L. Hayden, 24, also of 96 Cook St. with two counts each of third-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance, felonies. Investigators at the time said her arrest is connected to Cook and Slade’s cases, and that she allegedly sold crack cocaine and possessed the drug with intent to distribute.

Massena Court officials said Slade and Cook’s cases are each listed as going to trial, but no date has been scheduled. Slade is in a drug rehabilitation facility in Pennsylvania, court officials said. Hayden is being prosecuted in St. Lawrence County Court.

Narrow said he hopes the Cook case can be resolved before going to trial.

“We are hopeful there can be a resolution of this matter short of a trial,” Narrow said. “The DA’s office is short-staffed. We’d like to have discussions with them.”[img_assist|nid=172624|title=Hannah Hayden|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=175|height=208]

Cook, a mainstay on the airwaves for more than 40 years as the host of WMSA 1340 AM’s morning show, has been off the air since his arrest.

“He’s off the air until further notice,” Mark Gaines said Feb. 16. He is a regional manager for Stevens Media Group Watertown and Massena markets, which owns WMSA.

Narrow says people shouldn’t rush to judge Cook, who has yet to be convicted of anything.

“People need to be mindful that Sandy still enjoys the presumption of innocence … the people haven’t met their burden yet to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” Narrow said. “Be patient and withhold judgment on Mr. Cook until all the facts are known.”

Later on Friday, District Attorney Mary Rain contacted North Country Now and said there was in fact a plea deal offered. See story here.