A man from the Village of Waterville was arrested following a reported violation of an order of protection and a domestic incident, according to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol on March 10.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about domestic violence and the enforcement of protective orders in local communities.
Sheriff Maciol said that on March 7, the Road Patrol Deputy assigned to the Waterville Field Office responded to a welfare check at a residence in the Village of Waterville after being dispatched by the Oneida County Emergency Services 911 Center. Before the deputy arrived, the suspect had called the 911 Center claiming he was out of state but wanted to file an unrelated complaint. Authorities used phone location data to determine that he was actually at a residence in Waterville where he was subject to a full stay-away order of protection.
Upon arrival, deputies located the suspect at the scene. During their investigation into the alleged order of protection violation, it was reported by the protected party that a domestic incident had occurred one day earlier. The victim alleged that she had been punched in the face, her cellphone broken, and a door frame damaged during an altercation witnessed by children present in the home.
At the conclusion of their investigation, members of both the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Unit and Road Patrol arrested Joel W. Bugbee, age 37, charging him with first-degree criminal contempt (a felony), two counts each of fourth-degree criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child (both misdemeanors), and second-degree harassment (a violation). Bugbee was taken to Oneida County Correctional Facility pending CAP Court arraignment. An additional order of protection was issued for the children involved. After arraignment, Bugbee was held on bail.
The case underscores law enforcement’s efforts to respond quickly to potential violations involving protective orders and domestic incidents.