Conviction in Cayuga Correctional contraband case

District Attorney Budelmann announced today that following a Jury Trial in Cayuga County Court his office secured the conviction of Darnell Jackson (DOB 6/30/1985) on one count of Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree, a Class D felony. The jury found that Jackson, an inmate at the Cayuga Correctional Facility, possessed a sharpened metal knife on December 1, 2014. The knife was recovered by corrections staff during a search of the defendant, concealed inside his underwear.Jackson is currently serving a sentence for a conviction related to selling drugs in New York County (Manhattan) (March 2014, 3½ years determinate prison). He had previously been convicted in New York County of Robbery in the First Degree and Rape in the First Degree (March 2005, sentenced to 5 years determinate prison). Jackson was previously scheduled for release in 2016. The sentence for this, his third felony conviction must (by law) run consecutively to any existing sentence(s).Assistant District Attorney Brian Leeds prosecuted the defendant at trial. The jury returned the guilty verdict at around 11:00 AM on October 27, 2015. The court adjourned sentencing to January 12th, 2016 at 9:15 am. Jackson faces up to 3½ to 7 years for the conviction. He is also eligible for persistent felony offender treatment, which could carry a life imprisonment sentence. Jackson was represented by Norman Chirco at trial.District Attorney Budelmann stated: “We thank the jury for their care in evaluating this case and are obviously pleased with the result. Dangerous weapons inside our prisons create a serious safety and security concern for the entire facility and everyone therein. Proactive investigations and diligence by the corrections staff helps to take these weapons out of the hands of these dangerous inmates.”