West NY News

Randall Rolison, a 61-year-old man from Jamestown, has been sentenced to an additional 2 to 4 years in state prison for promoting prison contraband in the first degree. This conviction adds to the substantial prison sentences Rolison was already serving for vehicular homicides. The sentence will run consecutively with his existing sentence.

Nearly one year ago, on February 26, 2024, Rolison was sentenced to a combined prison term of up to 40 years. This was due to his convictions of manslaughter in the second degree, following the January 2022 hit-and-run death of 15-year-old Alexis Hughan in Jamestown, and aggravated vehicular homicide. The latter involved a December 2022 car crash in which Rolison ran a stop sign in Arkwright, crashing into a pickup truck driven by Gary and Linda Kraemer. The accident resulted in the death of Mrs. Kraemer and injuries to her husband. Rolison was found to be under the influence of methamphetamine during both incidents.

In March 2024, after being sentenced for the homicides but prior to his transfer to a state facility, Rolison was discovered in possession of methamphetamine at the Chautauqua County jail following a visit. This led to his latest conviction.

District Attorney Jason Schmidt remarked on the case, stating, “I can’t think of a more horrendous example of how illegal drugs like meth have destroyed innocent lives and caused needless and profound suffering for all of us here in the County. It defies common sense to think that Mr. Rolison was on meth when he killed poor Lexi, chose to use meth again later that same year when he killed Mrs. Kraemer, and turned to meth again while in our jail before leaving for state prison. Mr. Rolison and his meth addiction have forever ruined two local families, caused so much pain to so many innocent people, and wrecked his own life. This is the scourge of drugs which has upended this County along with countless others across the state and country.”

He also expressed gratitude to local law enforcement, saying, “We are indebted to our Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Officers, Criminal Investigation Division, and the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force for their work on this case. Only through tireless law enforcement can we counter the enormous influence illegal drugs has had over each and every one of us, directly and indirectly. We won’t stop fighting the good fight. Somehow, some way, we need to return to normalcy.”