The Root man indicted on six counts for allegedly abducting and assaulting a woman in January will have until next month to consider a plea offer or face trial this fall.

Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Hofmann put the plea offer to Charles Gray on the record in Montgomery County Court on Monday.

If accepted, Gray would plead guilty to second-degree kidnapping and first-degree sexual abuse, both class B violent felonies, with determinate sentences to run concurrently. He would serve 15 years imprisonment followed by 10 years post release supervision under the concurrent terms.

Gray would additionally be required to register as a sex offender and waive his right to appeal his conviction. He would also be required to pay any applicable fines, fees and surcharges. A permanent stay away order of protection would be issued for the victim

Furthermore, Hofmann said, in exchange for Gray accepting the plea deal, the district attorney’s office would bypass filing a new charge of criminal contempt against the defendant for his alleged violation of the full stay away order of protection for the victim issued at his arraignment.

Hofmann noted that she had provided Gray’s court appointed attorney, Beau Melita, with a recording of a jail telephone and a transcript from his arraignment on the indictment. She stated that her office is additionally awaiting the return of a cell phone from state police with the material to subsequently be turned over to the defense as discovery.

During an appearance last month, Hofmann had alleged that the female victim in the case had received a phone call from Gray’s relative despite the court having previously issued a full stay away order of protection.

At the time, Montgomery County Court Judge Lorraine Diamond noted that she typically states that communication through third parties is included among the prohibited forms of contact, but a transcript of the initial proceeding had not been immediately available for review. In the interim, a new order expressly forbidding third party contact was issued out of an abundance of caution.

Hofmann on Monday stated that the plea offer would remain open through Aug. 22 and would be removed if not accepted by that date. A tentative trial date has been set for Nov. 10.

Melita confirmed during the court appearance that he had received a copy and informed his client of the plea offer. He indicated his client should be prepared to make a decision on whether to accept or reject the plea deal at the next scheduled court appearance at 2 p.m. on Aug. 8.

“We still have to discuss it, but my understanding is, we’ll be reviewing it. I believe we should be able to get an answer to the court and the people at the appearance on Aug. 8,” Melita said. “If that changes, I will let everybody know.”

Over the course of the appearance, Gray spoke only when answering direct questions from the judge. Diamond herself appeared in Montgomery County Court remotely during a break from presiding over a trial in Saratoga County Court.

Gray, 49, has been remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility without bail since he was taken into custody at his home and arraigned on June 13. He was indicted on charges of first-degree kidnapping, first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree strangulation, third-degree assault, second-degree aggravated harassment and second-degree harassment.

Gray is accused of abducting a woman in the town of Root on Jan. 22 and restraining her for more than 12 hours with the intent to inflict physical injury or violate her sexually, according to the unsealed indictment obtained from Montgomery County Court.

During the course of the incident, Gray allegedly subjected the woman to forced sexual contact, obstructed her breathing, caused her physical injury, “hit” her and threatened her. More specific circumstances surrounding how the incident unfolded were not included in the indictment.

Reach Ashley Onyon at aonyon@dailygazette.net.

The 16th annual Northville Rotary Woodworking and Fine Arts Weekend is scheduled for July 18 to 20.

This year’s event will feature more than 60 accomplished artists from this area and beyond. Woodworkers, jewelers, weavers, potters, photographers, painters and many other artists will display and sell their artwork at the Bradt Building and Town Park on Main Street in the village of Northville.

“I have been involved in the Woodworking and Fine Arts Show since our first show in 2009 that included 11 artists at the Inn at the Bridge in Northville,” Susan Owens, who is the show chair and Rotary Club secretary, said. “The Inn was not available the next year and was too small, since we started to grow. We moved to the Northampton Town Park and Building. We now have over 70 artists. Two of these artists have been with us for all 16 years.”

This year’s Featured Artists are Maria Scarpa Allen from Groton, Connecticut, who creates intricate wood-burned plaques and signs, and Richard Zadlo from Delmar, who makes and designs silver jewelry.

The event also is a juried show that brings on average more than 3,000 people into Northville.

“Personally, I take great pride in the success of the show. I have watched it grow and read the wonderful comments written by the artists each year,” Owens said. “It is beneficial to the community. We have a selection committee that reviews applications whose goal is to keep the woodworking and art of high quality. People and artists notice that.”

This year’s festivities will begin Friday, July 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. On Saturday, July 19, the event will take place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and it will conclude Sunday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Each day of the event will include demonstrations, raffles and a silent auction. Food can be purchased from a number of vendors. Proceeds from this event will be used throughout the year to provide scholarships to students, support community organizations and projects of Rotary International.

On Saturday at noon, there will be a performance by Bethlehem Traditional Irish Dance.........

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