Seneca Falls Man Arrested on Criminal Contempt Charge, Sent to Jail Following Domestic Violence Investigations

SENECA FALLS, NY — The quiet, historic streets of Seneca Falls have been rattled by a series of recent police interventions that highlight a troubling trend of domestic instability and the repeated defiance of judicial mandates. Within a single 72-hour window in December 2025, the Town of Seneca Falls Police Department processed two significant arrests that have left the local community grappling with questions about safety, the efficacy of court orders, and the protection of vulnerable witnesses.

In two separate incidents, local men—Joseph W. Donson, 22, and Joshua C. Vanderwall, 36—found themselves in handcuffs, facing charges that stem from the violation of court-ordered protections. While the cases differ in their specific details, together they paint a stark picture of the challenges facing law enforcement in Seneca County as they work to enforce the thin paper line between peace and violence.

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The Arrest of Joseph Donson: A Pre-Dawn Confrontation

The first incident unfolded in the early hours of Thursday, December 18, 2025. While much of the town remained asleep, officers were engaged in a criminal contempt investigation that led them to the doorstep of 22-year-old Joseph W. Donson.

According to official police reports, Donson was taken into custody at approximately 5:52 a.m. The arrest was the culmination of an investigation into the violation of a standing judicial mandate. Donson has been charged with one count of second-degree criminal contempt, a Class A misdemeanor under New York State Penal Law.

The Legal Weight of Contempt

In New York, a second-degree criminal contempt charge typically involves the intentional disobedience of a court order. In many domestic contexts, this involves a “stay-away” or “refrain-from” order designed to keep a specific individual safe from harassment or contact. Though classified as a misdemeanor, the charge carries significant weight, punishable by up to one year in local jail.

Following his processing at the Seneca Falls police headquarters, Donson was transported to the Seneca County Correctional Facility. Records indicate he was held there pending a centralized arraignment, a procedural step that determines bail eligibility and ensures the defendant is formally notified of the charges against them.

Violence in the Household: The Case of Joshua Vanderwall

While the Donson arrest was a swift response to a court violation, a second, more harrowing report reached the police department just days later. On December 19, 2025, officers arrested Joshua C. Vanderwall, 36, following a “late-reported” domestic disturbance that revealed a pattern of physical violence and total disregard for legal boundaries.

The details provided by investigators are chilling. The report, which came in several days after the actual event, alleged a violent physical altercation that had occurred nearly a week prior.

A Breach of Protection and Safety

According to the Town of Seneca Falls Police Department, their investigation concluded that Vanderwall struck a victim in the face during a heated confrontation. What makes the incident particularly egregious in the eyes of the law is the context surrounding the assault:

Violation of Judicial Orders: At the time of the strike, a “refrain-from” order of protection was already in effect. These orders are specifically issued by judges to prevent defendants from engaging in intimidating, harassing, or violent behavior toward protected parties.
A Child Witness: Perhaps most disturbingly, police noted that a young child was present during the altercation and witnessed the physical assault.

The presence of a child during domestic violence is viewed by the New York legal system as a severe aggravating factor. Studies consistently show that children who witness domestic violence are at higher risk for long-term psychological trauma, and the state has responded by strengthening laws that penalize those who expose minors to such volatility.

Serious Charges and Felony Implications

Vanderwall’s arrest led to a cascade of criminal charges reflecting the multifaceted nature of the incident:

Criminal Contempt in the First Degree (Class E Felony): Unlike Donson’s misdemeanor charge, Vanderwall’s contempt charge was elevated to a felony. In New York, criminal contempt reaches the first degree when a defendant violates an order of protection by intentionally placing a person in reasonable fear of physical injury or by actually causing physical injury.
Assault in the Third Degree: A charge stemming directly from the physical strike to the victim’s face.
Endangering the Welfare of a Child: Charged due to the child’s direct exposure to the violent outburst.

Vanderwall was transported to the Seneca County Law Enforcement Center, where he, like Donson, awaited a meeting with a judge to determine the next steps in his legal journey.

The Broader Context: Seneca County’s Battle with Domestic Stability

These two arrests are not isolated incidents but part of a broader struggle for public safety in the Finger Lakes region. The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office and the Seneca Falls Police Department have been notably active in the month of December 2025, dealing with a spike in domestic-related warrants and protective order violations.

The Role of the Seneca County Correctional Facility

The Seneca County Correctional Facility and Law Enforcement Center serve as the central hubs for these proceedings. For defendants like Donson and Vanderwall, these facilities are the first stop in a process that includes centralized arraignment—a system designed to provide 24/7 access to judges, ensuring that those arrested for domestic crimes are processed without delay.

The “Late Report” Phenomenon

The Vanderwall case highlights a significant hurdle for law enforcement: the “late-reported” incident. Experts in domestic violence advocacy suggest that victims often hesitate to report abuse immediately due to fear of retaliation, financial dependence, or the complexities of shared parenting.

The Seneca Falls Police Department’s ability to investigate and successfully charge an individual days after the fact serves as a reminder to the community that the passage of time does not grant immunity to abusers.

Protecting the Vulnerable: The Legal Path Forward

As Joseph Donson and Joshua Vanderwall move through the Seneca County court system, the focus shifts to the protection of the victims involved.

In cases of first-degree criminal contempt, judges in New York often move to issue “Full Stay-Away” orders, which are even more restrictive than the “refrain-from” orders previously ignored. For Vanderwall, the felony status of his charges means he could face up to four years in state prison if convicted, a far more severe consequence than the misdemeanor path.

The Town of Seneca Falls Police Department continues to urge residents to report any suspected violations of orders of protection immediately. As seen in the events of this week, these orders are the community’s primary tool for preventing domestic escalations from turning into tragedies.

For now, two more names have been added to the Seneca County jail roster, and two more families in Seneca Falls are left to pick up the pieces of a fractured peace.

Are you or someone you know a victim of domestic violence?

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Seneca County Sheriff’s Office: 315-539-9241
Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes: 800-247-7273