MONTICELLO – During a regular meeting of the Legislature on Thursday, February 19, the board heard a comprehensive report from Sullivan County District Attorney Brian Conaty, who outlined an extensive list of wins for law enforcement over the past year. 

“In an effort of transparency and accountability,” Conaty declared, “I have provided to the board The Inaugural 2025 End of Year Report from the District Attorney’s Office.”

Conaty’s report highlighted the year’s significant case outcomes, the establishment of the Cyber Investigations Unit, the establishment of the Quick Response Team (tasked with battling the opioid epidemic), the hiring of a Crime Victims’ Specialist Coordinator, and the hiring of the first-ever Chief Investigator for the District Attorney.

Conaty praised his executive team, which includes his Chief Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Michael Puma, his Chief Investigator Scott Kinne, and his Confidential Secretary Susan Landis, who Conaty announced will be retiring after 36 years of service and will be replaced by Natalie Tully.

Conaty reported that his office has expanded Crime Victims’ Services and hired Jade Corelli as Crime Victims’ Specialist Coordinator. “In this role,” Conaty said, “she will provide a direct resource to individuals impacted by crimes by offering guidance, emotional support, assistance in navigating the court system, and connecting victims with crimes critical services, including counseling, crisis intervention, safety planning, and restitution resources.” 

By providing a victim-centered approach, Conaty said that his office enhances case outcomes by “supporting victims so they are better able to participate in the pursuit of justice.” His office, he added, will continue to expand these victim services and will be applying for future New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) grant monies to support this initiative. 

Convictions

In 2025, Conaty announced that his office carried a load of 5,122 criminal cases, three of which resulted in life-sentence convictions. “In People V. Wunner,” Conaty said, “[Jonte Wunner] was convicted of murder in the second degree… and sentenced to 33 years to life incarceration in state prison.” In People V. Weir, Conaty said his office secured a conviction of predatory sexual assault against a child for Lavaun Weir, who received a sentence of 35 years to life incarceration in state prison and is required to register as a sex offender. In People V. Robinson, the D.A.’s office secured a conviction for robbery in the first degree which resulted in a sentence of 22 years to life as a persistent violent felony offender for Brian Robinson. 

“In People V. Holden,” said Conaty, “a gruesome case where a mother intentionally set fire to her own house knowing that her son was inside, we secured a conviction for arson in the second degree and further secured a sentence of 10 years of incarceration to be followed by five years of post- release supervision.” 

“In People V. Rosario, which is a companion case involving two cousins, there was a motor vehicle stop where we had lawful See Conaty, Page 3A ▶ grounds to search the vehicle, we seized nearly 20 lbs. of fentanyl, and because of that we were able to secure convictions of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree.” Conaty said that one cousin was sentenced to 10 years of incarceration in state prison, while the other cousin was sentenced to six years of incarceration in state prison, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision.

Search Warrants and Collaborations

Conaty reported that in 2025 his office drafted and helped execute more than 100 search warrants, “targeting residents, motor vehicles, black box and infotainment centers, clothing, cellular telephones, celltowers, digital devices, social media accounts, financial records, biological evidence, 

He said those investigations led to the seizing of approximately 250 illegal firearms, including 11 ghost guns, and “narcotics ranging from cannabis, hallucinogens, methamphetamine, ketamine, and cocaine, for a combined street value in excess of $150,000.”

“In 2025,” Conaty said, “we had significant law enforcement collaboration at all levels,” citing collaborations with the F.B.I., the Secret Service, the Department of Justice, the Homeland Security, the New York State Attorney General’s office, New York State Comptroller’s office, and New York State Inspector General’s office. “As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to strengthening public safety through modern, data-driven strategies, in close collaboration with our law enforcement partners,” concluded Conaty.

Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz said, “Thank you for your very detailed report. You and your staff have been very busy…you’ve established that you have taken your office very far into the future and have enhanced it tremendously.”