The Wayne County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help locating a woman wanted on multiple warrants out of Lyons, New York. Morgan Lee Garrett, 34, is wanted on a bench warrant for tampering with physical evidence after she failed to appear in court, as well as a separate arrest warrant tied to a Family Court violation.
According to Newport Dispatch, which first reported the alert, Garrett missed a scheduled court appearance connected to the tampering charge, prompting the bench warrant. Under New York Criminal Procedure Law § 510.50, judges issue bench warrants specifically to compel a defendant's return to court after they skip a mandatory date while out on bail or released on their own recognizance, according to the New York State Senate. Courts are generally required to give 48 hours notice before issuing such a warrant unless the no-show is deemed willful, per that same statute.
What the Tampering Charge Actually Carries
Tampering with physical evidence is classified as a Class E felony under New York Penal Law § 215.40, the lowest felony tier in the state's criminal code, but one that still carries potential penalties of one to four years in state prison or up to a year in local custody, according to FindLaw. The statute defines suppressing, concealing, altering, or destroying evidence as an offense when done with intent to prevent its production or use in an official or prospective official proceeding; preparing false evidence is an offense when done with intent that it be used in such a proceeding, per the New York State Senate. No details about the underlying case that led to the original tampering allegation have been made public, and the claim remains an unproven charge against Garrett.
There is additional legal exposure tied to missing a felony court date. Failing to appear within 30 days of a scheduled hearing on a felony charge can trigger a second charge of bail jumping in the second degree under Penal Law § 215.56, also a Class E felony, per FindLaw. Notably, prosecutors can pursue that bail-jumping charge even if the original underlying charge is later dismissed.
A Second Warrant Out of Family Court
Garrett is also wanted on an arrest warrant stemming from a Family Court violation, the sheriff's office said. Family Court Act § 428 addresses child support, while § 312.2 concerns juvenile delinquency.
The exact nature of the Family Court order Garrett is accused of violating has not been disclosed. Violations of Family Court orders in New York can lead to civil or criminal contempt proceedings, with consequences ranging from modified custody terms and financial penalties to probation or jail time, according to Syracuse Family Law. Civil contempt is meant to enforce compliance, while criminal contempt punishes willful disobedience, the firm notes.
Description and How to Help
Garrett is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 130 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 7376 Route 31 in Lyons along the Erie Canal corridor, serves a population of roughly 93,700 residents spread across 621 square miles, according to the New York State Sheriffs' Institute. The agency has been led by Sheriff Robert Milby since January 2022, after he previously served as chief deputy and lieutenant of the criminal investigation division.
Anyone with information on Garrett's whereabouts is asked to contact the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 315-946-9711. Public booking indexes show a prior local booking entry in Wayne County tied to a 34-year-old individual named Morgan C. Garrett dated March 2026, according to Arrest Records. Wanted alerts like this one are a routine tool for county sheriffs seeking community tips, a tactic Hoodline has covered before in other jurisdictions that run regular wanted-list alerts to track down fugitives.
