2nd degree murder in Wesley Valentine death
SYRACUSE -- Carl Otts was arraigned today before Onondaga County Court Judge Anthony Aloi. He entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of second degree murder, and tampering with physical evidence.
Otts was originally charged with manslaughter in the stabbing death of 18-year old Wesley Valentine on February 1st outside a bar on North Salina Street. On Wednesday, a Grand Jury handed up an indictment upgrading those charges. Judge Aloi also raised Otts’ bail to $250,000. It had been set at $25,000 after his initial arrest on the manslaughter charges.
A co-defendant, Christopher Barry, will be arraigned on upgraded charges in the case on Tuesday. He had originally been charged with tampering with evidence in the case. But Wednesday’s indictment alleges he participated in the crime. Barry in now charged with second degree murder.
Wesley Valentine was a former Bishop Ludden basketball player.
