Fugitive felon Gibson still at large a month after scheduled sentencing
— From the New York State Police
Andrew R. Gibson’s “wanted poster.”
ALBANY COUNTY — Having already pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of bodily injury, the Westerlo driver who was drunk when he killed Berne resident Lisa Sperry and seriously injured two of her sons last year may also have bail-jumping added to his charges — if he’s found.
Andrew R. Gibson failed to appear for his sentencing at Albany County Supreme Court on Feb. 1, having absconded while out on bail, and has yet to be located, Trooper Kerra Burns of the New York State Police confirmed for The Enterprise this week.
Bail-jumping becomes a crime when the person does not reappear within 30 days of the scheduled court date, according to state law.
Gibson was meant to be sentenced on Feb. 1, making March 3 the threshold.
Although he’s now eligible for the additional charge, the Albany County District Attorney’s Office said that it has not yet determined whether it will tack on the bail-jumping charge, a misdemeanor.
“The priority right now is locating him,” a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office told The Enterprise.
That task has been entrusted to the New York State Police, who, in addition to putting an investigator on the case, have declared Gibson “wanted,” so that other law-enforcement agencies around the country — and the general public — are on alert in case he makes himself noticed, Burns explained.
“We put it out on Facebook with one of our ‘wanted’ posters, with all the info, hoping to get some leads from the public … [and] any of the law enforcement that runs his name if they have contact with him will see that he has a warrant out,” Burns said.
Although the timeline for catching a fugitive is variable, they typically are found at some point or another, Burns said.
“Some of it is, did we have the luck of having someone run into [the fugitive] and did we get contact from another law enforcement agency?” Burns said. “Did we get a lead from somebody? Or, every once in a while, we get people who turn themselves in because they get tired of running. But generally we do find somebody if there’s a warrant out for them.”
Gibson’s “wanted poster” describes him as a white male with brown hair and hazel eyes who stands at 6 feet, 3 inches tall, and weighs 235 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to call the state police at 518-783-3283, or email them at .
