Yates County leaders condemned an officer’s failure to investigate a teen’s rape claim, calling it the worst misconduct they’ve seen, according to Finger Lakes Times.
District Attorney Todd Casella said Investigator Megan Morehouse ignored a victim’s report, leading to further abuse. He blamed former Sheriff Ron Spike, who was one of the state’s longest serving sheriffs, for the lapse. He said inaction and union protections led to the lack of consequences at the time for the deputy.
Morehouse was demoted, not fired. Sheriff Frank Ryan, who took office in 2024 after Spike’s retirement, promised stricter accountability but noted legal limits on firing officers.
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