NORWICH – On Monday, two Bronx men, Noel J. Budram, 18, and his co-defendant William Rochez, 19, appeared in Norwich City Court for their felony hearing after both were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; and criminal nuisance in the first degree, a class E felony. Rochez is also facing charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and criminal impersonation in the second degree, both class A misdemeanors.

Despite the defense attorneys' counter-arguments, the judge denied dismissal of the charges. Bail was set at $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond for both defendants, who were remanded back to the Chenango County Correctional Facility.

Two Norwich Police officers who conducted the arrests provided testimony. The testimony suggested that on June 10, 2014, at the Howard Johnson in Norwich, Rochez was approached by Norwich Police Officer Justin D. Carpenter, who had been doing a hall walk-through following complaints of the smell of marijuana.