MONTICELLO, NY — Members of the Monticello Police arrested Mellissa L. Strain, age 31, of Monticello on Wednesday, January 26. Strain was charged with the felonies of Burglary in the 2nd degree, Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree and Grand larceny in the 4th degree. Strain was also charged with misdemeanor Petit Larceny. 

At approximately 1:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Monticello Police responded to a 911 report of a burglary in progress at a residence on Hammond Street in the Village of Monticello. A female resident was home when she heard noises coming from the downstairs. When she investigated the noise, she found Strain, who was not known to the resident, in her living room. After an exchange of words with the resident, Strain grabbed the victim's coach wallet off of a table and fled out of the residence. Monticello PO Kenneth Conklin responding to the 911 call, observed Strain on East Broadway, who matched the suspect description given to 911. Upon further investigation Strain was arrested. 

Strain was also wanted on a Bench warrant issued by the Sullivan County Court for failure to appear for sentencing on a prior conviction for Robbery in the 2nd degree. Strain was arraigned in the Village of Monticello Justice Court before Justice Sharon Jankiewicz and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail pending further court action.

The filing of an accusatory instrument is merely an accusation and every person who is arrested is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.