Soldier arraigned on 2 murder counts
A Fort Drum soldier allegedly admitted to a detective that he murdered two fellow soldiers in Evans Mills, according to a supporting deposition filed Friday in Jefferson County Court.
Joshua S. Hunter, 20, was arraigned in court on two counts of second-degree murder. Through his attorney, Senior Assistant Public Defender Laurel A. McCarthy, Hunter entered not guilty pleas to both charges.
He said only, "Yes, sir," to Judge Kim H. Martusewicz in response to a question about whether his date of birth was correct, and also provided the judge his Social Security number.
Judge Martusewicz ordered him held without bail at the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building, pending a bail review Monday. Ms. McCarthy also waived Hunter's right to a timely preliminary hearing and the date for one also will be set Monday.
Hunter is accused of killing Waide T. James, 20, and Diego Valbuena, 23, on Sunday or Monday at their residence at the Meadows Apartments in Evans Mills.
According to a deposition prepared Wednesday by county sheriff's Detective Scott E. Sterling, Hunter "made admissions that with the intent to take the lives of these individuals, he did commit the murders."
It is further alleged in the deposition that Hunter stole a vehicle belonging to Mr. Valbuena. The vehicle was recovered in Ohio, where Hunter was apprehended Wednesday.
It also is stated in the deposition that the detective observed injuries to two of Hunter's fingers. The detective noted that injuries were "consistent with that suffered by the assailant."
Hunter is being held at the PSB "under a heightened level of supervision," according to jail Administrator Lt. Donald F. Pierce, who was unable to comment further on the reason for the classification.
Lt. Pierce said, as with all new inmates, Hunter was not placed in the general inmate population until he can be evaluated for a period, although the lieutenant said there appears to be nothing that will prevent him from joining the rest of the inmates following the evaluation.
