LIBERTY, NY — On Thursday, September 17, 2026, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Village of Liberty Police Department responded to the area of Academy Street for a report of a robbery. Responding officers interviewed the victim, who reported that he had been approached by two males who demanded property from him. A physical altercation followed, during which the victim was assaulted and a silver-colored watch was forcibly removed from his wrist.

Officers immediately began searching the surrounding area for the two suspects. Within six minutes of the initial report to police, both suspects had been located on North Main Street in the area of Columbia Street and taken into custody without incident. The watch taken from the victim was also recovered.

Arrested at that time was Aydan Burt, 18 of Liberty and a 16-year-old male both of Liberty. Both were charged with Robbery in the Second Degree for causing physical injury, a felony; Robbery in the Second Degree for being aided by another person actually present, a felony; Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, a misdemeanor; and Petit Larceny, a misdemeanor.

The identity of the 16-year-old defendant is being withheld because of his status as an adolescent offender.

Burt was arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court before the Honorable Judge Johnstone and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail, $10,000 secured bond or $25,000 partially secured bond. He is scheduled to return to the Town of Liberty Court on September 23, 2026.

The 16-year-old was arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court before the Honorable Judge Johnstone, sitting as an after-hours Youth Part judge, and was released to the custody of his legal guardian pending further court proceedings.

Chief of Police Steven D’Agata stated, “This arrest is an excellent example of the importance of a rapid and coordinated response by our officers. Within just six minutes of this robbery being reported, officers had located both suspects, taken them safely into custody and recovered the victim’s stolen property. I commend the officers and detectives involved for their immediate response and thorough investigation. When a serious crime occurs in our community, every minute matters, and the work of our officers in this case demonstrates exactly why.”

Criminal charges are merely allegations that a defendant has committed violations of the criminal law, and as such they are not evidence of guilt. All defendants have a presumption of innocence and are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the burden of the State of New York to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.