In the quiet village of Fort Plain, New York, the summer of 2018 was tragically marked by the death of 29-year-old Joshua Laveck, a White male. On the morning of June 30th, Laveck was discovered lifeless on the front porch of his Division Street residence. The cause of his death was determined to be a homicide, a result of being shot. The grim discovery prompted an immediate and intensive investigation by the Fort Plain Police Department and the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal
Investigation.
The investigation swiftly led to the identification of three suspects. Within days of the discovery of Laveck's body, authorities announced the arrests of Garry L. Sweet III, 38, of Fort Plain; Eric S. Rivera, 31, of Gloversville; and Aaron L. Cockfield, 33, of Johnstown. As the legal process unfolded, the initial charges against the trio were upgraded. Sweet and Rivera were both indicted on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy. Cockfield faced a charge of second-degree criminal facilitation, accused of aiding in the commission of the crime.
The cases against the three men proceeded through the Montgomery County court system, revealing a planned and coordinated effort that led to Laveck's death. According to testimony that would later emerge in court, the plan to harm Laveck was premeditated. Both Rivera and Cockfield provided testimony that implicated Sweet as a key figure in the plot to "shoot the victim."
Ultimately, all three men were held accountable for their roles in the death of Joshua Laveck. In April 2019, following a jury trial, Garry L. Sweet III was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy. He received a sentence of 25 years to life in prison for the murder conviction, with a concurrent sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years for conspiracy.
Eric S. Rivera also faced a jury and was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy. After his conviction, Rivera entered into a sentencing agreement. In exchange for his testimony in the trial against Garry Sweet, he was sentenced to 15 years to life for the murder and a concurrent 8 1/3 to 25 years for the conspiracy charge.
Aaron L. Cockfield, the third individual charged in connection with the homicide, accepted a plea bargain. As a condition of his agreement, he testified for the prosecution during the trial of his co-defendants. His testimony was crucial in outlining the plan to harm Laveck. While the specifics of his plea deal and sentence were not widely publicized, his cooperation was a significant element in the overall legal resolution of the case.
