Week In Review

Grandmother in Rainwalker Case Petitions for Custody

Barbara Reeley, grandmother of 12-year-old Jaliek Rainwalker who has been missing since November 1, has applied for custody of Jaliek, however a custody hearing scheduled for Wednesday was adjourned because this is an unprecedented case.

Reeley’s daughter Jocelyn McDonald and her husband Stephen Kerr adopted Jaliek five years ago and according to Reeley, the couple was trying to undo the adoption at the time of his disappearance.

Jaliek disappeared days after he allegedly threatened another child in the McDonald-Kerr household. Jaliek wrote a letter to the family apologizing for his actions, which Kerr describes as note left behind after he ran away. Kerr is the last known person to have had contact with Jaliek.

NYRA Not Paterson’s First Choice

Gov. David Paterson says he doesn’t believe New York Racing Association should be in charge of thoroughbred racing in New York, however he will not interfere with NYRA’s latest franchise struck with former Gov. Eliot Spencer.

Paterson says NYRA’s past show that it should not be running the Race Track for the next 25 years. NYRA has been the center of state and federal investigations into corruption charges and their recent stay in bankruptcy court.

NYRA won the 25-year extension in February with a $105 million bailout, and Paterson says an agreement should be honored even with the change of a governor.

Men Arrested in Child Prostitution Case

Three men have been arrested for allegedly profiting from prostitution following an incident involving a 14-year-old girl on May 10.

Kyle A. Wedderspoon, 23, of 391 Middleline Rd., Ballston Spa, was charged with second degree rape for allegedly having intercourse with the girl, and second degree criminal sex act. Both are felony offences. He is being held in Saratoga County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail or $50,000 bond. He will appear in court to answer to his charges on June 10.

Michael McCleary, 20, of 506 Sand Hill Rd., Ballston Spa, is facing the same charges as Wedderspoon, as well as second-degree profiting from prostitution, also a felony. He is being held at Saratoga County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond and will appear in court on June 10. He is also facing several other charges stemming from an under-age drinking party which took place on Tuesday, May 20.

Brett R. McClellan, 20, homeless, has also been charged with profiting from prostitution, as well as several other charges stemming from other incidents, including possessing a stolen handgun and breaking into a home and stealing personal property. He is being held at Saratoga County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond. He will appear in court on June 17.