Watertown Police File Felony Contempt, Animal Cruelty and Drug Charges

Watertown police charged Ethan R. Northrop, 25, of Adams Center, with first-degree criminal contempt, a felony, on Aug. 12 at the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building. Court documents allege he violated a stay-away order of protection issued by City Court by leaving a voicemail for the protected party on Aug. 10. Police wrote that he was previously convicted of second-degree criminal contempt in April 2026. He was held for arraignment in City Court. Also on Aug. 12, police charged Brooklynn M. Batsford, 23, of Watertown, with second-degree harassment, a violation, in connection with an alleged assault on a woman on West Main Street in June, according to court documents. She was also arrested on a warrant and held for arraignment in City Court.

Violet P. Laning, 25, of Watertown, was charged Aug. 4 with two counts of animal cruelty, a misdemeanor. Police allege two dogs were left without food and water and kept in unsanitary conditions for an unknown period. Laning is due in City Court on Aug. 24. Karen L. Forney, 67, of Antwerp, was charged Aug. 12 with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, and a license plate violation after a traffic stop in the 600 block of Pearl Street, police said. She is due in City Court on Aug. 28. Three other people were arrested on bench warrants on Aug. 12 and held for arraignment in CAP Court, the department said. All of the charges are allegations, and none of the defendants has been convicted in these matters.