Kingston, NY—On September 11, 2024, Jordan Cutler, age 36, of Ellenville, New York, entered pleas of not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect, more commonly known as insanity, to his entire indictment charging him with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, and Strangulation in the First Degree before the Honorable Bryan E. Rounds in Ulster County Court.

The indictment stemmed from a domestic incident on September 20, 2023 in the Village of Ellenville. The indictment charged that defendant choked his mother, and then took a large kitchen knife and cut her across the neck shortly after Mobile Mental Health had responded and departed from the residence. When the Ellenville Police arrived at the scene the defendant stated, “I tried to kill my mother.”   

The matter was adjourned for psychiatric evaluations to be completed so that a hearing can be held under the Criminal Procedure Law to determine if the defendant suffers from a dangerous mental illness. The hearing is tentatively scheduled for October 10, 2024. If he is determined to suffer from a dangerous mental illness, meaning that he is a danger to himself or others, he must be committed to a secure psychiatric facility for public safety and for his care and treatment of his mental illness.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant Paul Derohannesian. The defendant is represented by Clifford Owens, Chief Assistant Public Defender of the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.

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