A 27‑year‑old former clerk for the Saugerties town court pleaded guilty on October 17 to two felony counts of first‑degree tampering with public records. Prosecutors say Haley Whalen, 27, abused her position by accessing official court documents and dismissing criminal charges against someone with whom she had a personal relationship.
The investigation conducted by the New York State Police and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office found that the clerk manipulated records without judicial authorization, altering case files in such a way that the normal court process was bypassed. District Attorney Emmanuel Nneji described the conduct as corruption, saying it undermined the fairness of the justice system and the integrity of public records.
She is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2026, and faces the court’s discretion regarding penalties for tampering with public records.
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