CAZENOVIA — On Friday, Aug. 5, Madison County District Attorney (DA) William Gabor announced in a statement that a member of his office had offered his resignation following “a life-threatening incident” in the Town of Nelson on July 30, 2022.
According to a statement issued by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 5, deputies and the Cazenovia Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CAVAC) were dispatched to a Nelson residence — later determined to be that of Assistant District Attorney Bradley J. Moses, 44 — at approximately 8:55 p.m. regarding a possible overdose.
The 911 caller advised the responders that two individuals were unconscious and unresponsive inside the residence, the sheriff’s office said.
Upon arrival, deputies found two subjects inside who were unconscious with agonal breathing — a medical term used to describe struggling to breathe or gasping for air.
The sheriff’s office reported that both individuals were given multiple doses of Narcan by the deputies and CAVAC personnel and then transported to Syracuse area hospitals for treatment. Both subjects were treated and released.
Narcan is a brand name of naloxone, which is designed to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
According to the sheriff’s office, witnesses advised the responders that the two victims had ingested a substance purported to be cocaine prior to becoming unconscious and unresponsive.
The sheriff’s office also said deputies recovered a sample of the purported narcotics during the execution of a search warrant. The sample field tested positive for fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, 50-100 times stronger than morphine.
In his Aug. 5 statement, Gabor reported that the DA’s office was aware of “a life-threatening incident” that occurred on July 30 in Nelson.
“The Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded and is completing its investigation,” Gabor said. “One of the individuals involved was a member of the District Attorney’s Office. He is completing a Family Leave application to address a personal problem and has offered his resignation; which will be accepted.”
Moses, who is running for Madison County Court Judge, described a different version of the July 30 incident in a statement posted on his campaign page, Bradmoses.com.
He recounts that after returning home from a golf tournament on Saturday night, he lost consciousness and was taken to a Syracuse emergency room, where, after several tests, it was determined that he had acute kidney failure caused by severe dehydration as a result of high alcohol consumption coupled with the hot weather.
According to Moses, a toxicology screen performed at the hospital showed that there were no illegal drugs in his system.
“I recognize I have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol that requires I receive the necessary help to overcome,” Moses wrote. “I have taken a medical leave from the District Attorney’s office and I have already begun taking the appropriate measures to get better. I truly appreciate all the support I have received from my family and friends and look forward to focusing on being the best person I can be for my family.”
Moses was sworn in as an assistant district attorney in Madison County in 2017.
According to his campaign website, he handled felony level cases ranging from attempted murder and manslaughter to robbery, domestic violence, and felony DWI charges.
He previously worked for the Mackenzie Hughes Law Firm in Syracuse and maintained a private law practice in Cazenovia for six years.
In an Aug. 8 update on the situation, Gabor said Moses will use up some of his sick time, vacation time, and personal time, to which he is entitled, on a Family Leave to address his personal issues and officially resign on Sept. 30, 2022.
“His DA badge has been retrieved, we have retained his DA computer, and his access to the DA Office and all DA files has been terminated,” Gabor said. “He is scheduled to pick-up all of his personal belongings and submit his resignation letter today.”
The DA also stated that Moses is unlikely to be charged with any crime.
He explained that the evidence shows that although the misdemeanor crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree was committed, the so-called “Good Samaritan Law” under Penal Law section 220.78 states that a person who seeks health care for someone experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose or a person experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose shall not be charged or prosecuted for a controlled substance offense.
“DAs in the State of New York, as do I, support this law because we do not want to deter someone from calling for emergency assistance, for fear of arrest, in a life-threatening incident,” said Gabor. “If an arrest was made, of course, the Madison County DA Office would have a conflict and would apply for a Special Prosecutor to handle the case.”
Additionally, Gabor confirmed that the county’s investigation into the incident was ongoing and that the sample of the substance recovered at the scene would undergo further testing.
As of Monday afternoon, Moses was still a candidate for Madison County Court Judge, according to Madison County Republican Committee Chairman Todd Rouse. Endorsed by the Republican and Conservative Parties, he is currently the only candidate on the ballot.
The sheriff’s office encourages any individuals who have knowledge of the July 30 incident, particularly regarding the source of the purported narcotics, to call 315-366-2311. Members of the public can also leave anonymous tips at madisoncounty.nv.qov/1650/Report-Crime-Drug-Tip.
