Staff Report / January 7, 2026
A woman formerly residing in Penn Yan has been arrested following an investigation into the abandonment of a child that dates back to 2023.
Penn Yan Police announced that 43-year-old Ashley Montgomery, now living in Syracuse, was taken into custody on an outstanding arrest warrant. She faces several charges, including felony counts of child abandonment and second-degree criminal mischief, along with misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree criminal mischief, endangering the welfare of a child, and abandonment of animals.
The case originated in September 2023 when officers were called to a residence in the Village of Penn Yan after a report from a concerned citizen. Police say they discovered a 13-year-old child living alone after Montgomery allegedly left the child for nearly two weeks. Investigators determined the child had been left without money or basic resources and was caring for two dogs inside the home. Authorities say Montgomery had left the area and traveled to Syracuse.
According to police, the residence was found to be unsafe and was later condemned by Code Enforcement. Child Protective Services intervened, placing the child in a secure environment. Officials reported that the child was not physically harmed. Animal Control removed the two dogs from the home, and they were later re-homed.
The case was presented to the Yates County District Attorney’s Office and subsequently resulted in a grand jury indictment. Law enforcement agencies made multiple attempts to locate Montgomery over an extended period but were unsuccessful. Police say she eventually turned herself in after a wanted notice was publicly circulated.
Montgomery was processed at the Penn Yan Police Department and is currently being held at the Yates County Jail while awaiting arraignment in Yates County Criminal Court.
