Press Release - Eric Napoli Sentence

FROM:   HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

        ULSTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DATE:   APRIL 29, 2016

SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE

On April 29, 2016, Eric Napoli, age 44, of Pine Bush, was sentenced to a period of two years in jail, the maximum punishment allowable by law by Ulster County, County Court Judge Donald Williams on his conviction to Aggravated Cruelty to Animals. Napoli also is to forfeit any ownership he has with companion animals, pay restitution to the dog owner and an order of protection was issued on her behalf.

The evidence at trial established that on April 16, 2015, the defendant tied his housemate’s 6 year old huskie, Luna, to a tree in his back yard and shot her to death using a shotgun loaded with leaded birdshot. At sentencing, Judge Williams described defendant’s conduct as “chilling” and that he “could not imagine how someone could point a shotgun at an innocent creature who just wanted to be loved by human beings.” Williams continued that defendant’s “explanation, tortured logic and rationalization” were “quickly rejected by the jury as fabricated and unbelievable.” Williams finished that defendant has shown no remorse and waited until Luna’s owner came home so defendant could execute Luna and inflict more pain on the owner. As part of his sentence, the District Attorney’s office recommended, and the court ordered, that Napoli must register with the newly enacted Ulster County Animal Abuse Registry.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Paul Derohannesian and Emmanuel Nneji. The defendant was represented by attorney Tom Petro.  

Press Release - Avoiding Home Improvement Scams

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: APRIL 29, 2016

RE: PRESS RELEASE – AVOIDING HOME IMPROVEMENT SCAMS

Spring is finally here and many homeowners will be embarking on home improvement projects. The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs offers these warning signs that a home improvement contractor may not be reputable:

·       The contractor is hesitant to provide a written contract (or will not put verbal promises in writing).

·       The contract does not have the name, address or telephone number of the contractor.

·       The contractor is located out of county or out of state.

·       The contractor shows up uninvited and offers to seal your driveway, repair your roof or cut down a tree.

·       The consumer is asked to pay for the entire job in advance, or to pay in cash.

·       The contractor uses high pressure sales tactics, stating a special price is “only available today”.

·       The contractor is hesitant to furnish references.

·       The contractor has many judgments against him (judgments are filed with the County Clerk).

·       The contractor has unresolved consumer complaints on file with Consumer Affairs.

Doing some homework prior to hiring a contractor can save you lots of time and money. Ulster County Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.

                                                             

Press Release - John Benkert Sentence

 

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: APRIL 27, 2016

RE: PRESS RELEASE – JOHN BENKERT SENTENCE

John Benkert, 52, from Hurley, was sentenced on April 26, 2016 in County Court before the Hon. Anthony McGinty to 60 days in the Ulster County Jail with 5 years probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $224,000 to be distributed between 6 victims within his first 2 years of probation. He was also ordered to complete 150 more hours of community service.

During his plea allocution in April of last year, Benkert had admitted to stealing $324,000 from local businessmen and friends using fraudulent pretenses. 

Benkert was arrested after a long-term investigation by the New York State Police and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office which revealed that his scheme involved the alleged development of a mall in the State of Connecticut.  Based on promises of a quick reimbursement with substantial interest, investors lent him funds at a time when Benkert had no intention or financial capability of repaying the advances. 

At defendant’s sentencing the Ulster County Probation Department reported that Benkert, who had previously been ordered to serve 480 hours of community service before his sentencing, tried to con the Probation Department and the court by lying about the hours of community service he had performed, which allegation the defendant admitted. He also failed to pay $149,000.00 of restitution which he had been ordered to pay before his April 26^th sentencing.

“Plain and simply, Benkert is a con man.  We have no reasonable expectation that he will pay the restitution ordered by the court.  Hopefully, if that prediction becomes a reality Benkert will be resentenced to state prison” quoted Holley Carnright, Ulster County District Attorney.

The case has been prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jessica Mila Schutzman.  Benkert is represented by Thomas K. Petro, Esq. of Kingston. 

 
   
   
  

Press Release - Maureen Leggett Sentence

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: APRIL 25, 2016

RE: PRESS RELEASE – MAUREEN LEGGETT

Maureen Leggett, 53, from Red Hook, was sentenced on Friday April 22, 2016 in County Court by Hon. Donald A. Williams on her conviction to the class D felony of grand larceny in the third degree to 3 ½ to 7 years in state prison.  She was also ordered to pay restitution.

Leggett, working as a bookkeeper in charge of financial matters for a local business in Ulster Park, stole a total of $155,594.00 over a period from January 23, 2013 to April 6, 2015.  Leggett’s criminal pattern included unlawful use of the business credit card, of the owner’s personal credit card, unlawfully writing checks and depositing stolen monies into her husband’s account. This is the defendant’s third felony conviction for Grand Larceny and Falsifying Business Records. She was convicted in both 2006 and 2009 for similar schemes. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jessica Mila Schutzman.  Leggett is represented by Mitch Spinac, Esq. and Carol Morgan, Esq. of Kingston. 

Press Release - Mack McMillan

FROM:  HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE:  APRIL 22, 2016

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. MACK McMILLAN

On April 21st, 2016, in Ulster County Court, a jury of eight men and 4 women returned a verdict finding Mack McMillan guilty of all counts of a four count indictment charging him with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree and Resisting Arrest.

McMillan was convicted of selling cocaine to a confidential informant on March 27, 2015, and of possessing cocaine with the intent to sell it on that same day when he was arrested on his way to a second arranged purchase.  McMillan fled from police officers and was apprehended only after a police canine was deployed.

This case rose from a joint investigation involving the Kingston Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit and the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT). 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Timothy Lawson.  The defendant was represented by John Evans.  McMillan is scheduled to be sentenced by the Hon. Donald A. Williams on June 24, 2016.