The following information was provided by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department--
Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of two Putnam County men on criminal charges stemming from their alleged involvement in distributing heroin to others - including their own children.
On July 1, 2014, members of the Sheriff’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit arrested 45 year-old George Bushell of 40 Sodom Road, Brewster, New York and Jeffrey Pepper, age 37 years-old of 365 Ninham Road, Carmel, New York capping a three-month investigation into Mr. Bushell’s heroin trafficking enterprise. Narcotics officers observed Mr. Bushell occupying a car driven by Mr. Pepper on Root Avenue in Southeast. The car, also occupied by three girls in the back seat, was stopped by the officers. Further investigation by the undercover deputies revealed that just prior to being stopped, both men handed heroin to their daughters who were passengers occupying the back seat.
Mr. Bushell was arrested and was charged with two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, one count of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance to a Child, three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
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Mr. Pepper was taken into custody and charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree.
A criminal history check of Mr. Bushell revealed that he is currently on parole for a prior felony heroin possession conviction. Mr. Pepper is currently on probation with the
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Putnam County Probation Department having been convicted of Driving While Intoxicated.
The pair was arraigned before Southeast Town Justice Richard Vercollone. Mr. Bushell was sent to the Putnam County Correctional Facility without bail, while Mr. Pepper was sent to jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail.
The arresting deputies also referred this case to the Child Protective Unit of Putnam County’s Department of Social Services for further administrative action.
