Geneva City Councilor Ahmad Whitfield has been released from the Ontario County Jail following his arrest last week on drug charges, authorities said Monday.
Whitfield, 45, had been in custody since Jan. 7, when New York State Police arrested him on charges including second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a class A-II felony, and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, class B felonies.
Court paperwork indicated he sold roughly one ounce of cocaine in Geneva last Tuesday.
Ontario County Court Judge Fred Reed ordered Whitfield released without bail during a Monday court appearance.
District Attorney Jason MacBride said the preliminary hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva Town Court will be rescheduled. He added that the case is still under investigation and that prosecutors and law enforcement are continuing to gather evidence through the discovery process.
Whitfield remains a member of the Geneva City Council. Mayor Jim Cecere has said he is calling on Whitfield to consider resigning from the council.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here
