Former Lake George Watershed Coalition director to serve prison time for 2020 conviction

David Decker – the former head of the Lake George Watershed Coalition who was convicted of pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars of state and federal grants – will have to go to prison after all.

A decision out Thursday from the State Supreme Court Appellate Division upholds Decker’s conviction and sentence.

A jury found Decker guilty of six felonies in 2020, all related to diverting public funds that were supposed to be used to preserve and protect Lake George. 

Prosecutors said Decker spent public money at Saratoga Race Course and casinos.

Judge John Hall sentenced Decker to eight to 24 years in state prison in September 2020, but Decker has been free pending appeal since then.

This court decision means Decker must report to court and then start serving his sentence.