Press Release - Christopher D. Hasenflue Plea

FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

          ULSTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DATE:     DECEMBER 27, 2016

SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE – CHRISTOPHER D. HASENFLUE

On December 21, 2016, CHRISTOPHER D. HASENFLUE, age 38, a resident of 53 Clinton Avenue in Kingston, entered a plea of guilty before Judge Donald A. Williams to one count of Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B Violent Felony.  The plea stemmed from an incident which took place in the City of Kingston on the evening of August 9, 2016.  On that night, Hasenflue stole purses from an outdoor table where two women were dining at a Wall Street restaurant. After grabbing the purses, Hasenflue ran up Wall Street, where he was tackled by a Good Samaritan.  As a result of the interference, Hasenflue dropped the purses.  He then pulled out a knife and chased one of the victims.  Minutes later, Hasenflue confronted a third victim on John Street and robbed her of her purse at knife point.  He then fled up Fair Street, where he was chased by additional witnesses.  With the assistance of involved citizens, members of the Kingston Police Department were able to apprehend Hasenflue only fifteen minutes later.  Hasenflue, who has an extensive criminal history, was indicted by an Ulster County Grand Jury in September.  He remains in the Ulster County Jail without bail. Sentencing is scheduled for February 24, 2017.

Press Release - Holiday Message

FROM: ULSTER COUNTY DA HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: DECEMBER 22, 2016

RE: HOLIDAY MESSAGE

Greetings:

Our office sends a message of hope and peace to all our friends.  Take a moment to join me in wishing all the men and women who protect us, here and abroad, a holiday filled with grace and good will.  This time of magic and wonder offers us a moment to reflect on our blessings.  Stay safe out there.

Press release - Pascarella sentence

TO:  MEDIA

FROM:  HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE:  December 16, 2016

RE:  PRESS RELEASE – PEOPLE V. NICHOLAS PASCARELLA, JR.

On December 16, 2016, after having previously been found guilty by an Ulster County jury of Murder in the Second Degree, Nicholas Pascarella, Jr. was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison by the Hon. Donald A. Williams.

Pascarella, Jr. was charged by indictment with Murder in the Second Degree for killing his father with a baseball bat on December 27^th, 2014, outside the victim’s residence while his mother watched the brutal attack.  During the trial, the defense argued that the defendant committed the homicide while under the influence of an extreme emotional disturbance, thereby committing the lesser crime of Manslaughter in the First Degree, which defense the jury rejected.

During a very emotional sentencing hearing several family members addressed the court on behalf of the victim, Nicholas Pascarella, Sr.  Judith Pascarella, the wife of the victim and mother of the defendant told Judge Williams that “my son did the ultimate betrayal.  He cold bloodedly and without hesitation killed his father, his hero as you heard him describe here in court”. 

Jared Cocozza, the grandson of the victim and nephew of the defendant told Judge Williams, “There won’t be him smiling in the audience at my graduation or even to bust my chops on my first date. My brother only got six years with him but I will make sure he knows everything that pop taught me cause he taught me about life, love and family.  And no one, not even a murderer can take that away.”

Dawn Cocozza, daughter of the victim and sister of the defendant addressed her brother in court and told him, “And for my children, I will not let you or this circumstance make us into victims.  We will rise up and live our lives.  Fortunately, that does not include you.  And I want to be nothing like you.  I want to be a mother to my children and show them that in spite of you, I can be happy and move forward.  In order for me to move forward, I am choosing to forgive you.  And with this, I can set you free, move forward and forget you.

Judge Williams addressed the defendant directly just before pronouncing the sentence which is the maximum allowed by law.  He told Pascarella, Jr that he did not feel there was any chance of rehabilitation for him.  Judge Williams went on to say that there was strong evidence during the trial that this murder was an attempt to impress his estranged wife, Michelle Pascarella, nee Tompkins.  Judge Williams then read from a transcript of a phone call from Pascarella, Jr. to Michelle Pascarella from the jail shortly after the murder. In it, the defendant stated, “Five years is a long time to sleep by myself and never be held again.  And to be honest I would do it every single day for you.  The sad part is when five years is up and I get a taste of freedom and you ask me to kill somebody else, I’d do it again.”

The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Kavanagh and the defendant was represented by MariAnn Connolly. 

Gregory Williams press release

                                                           

DISTRICT ATTORNEY D. HOLLEY CARNRIGHT ANNOUNCES:  SEX TRAFFICKER ADMITS PROMOTING PROSTITUTION OF A CHILD

            Gregory C. Williams, 39, who last resided at the Capri Motel in Port Ewen but previously lived in the City of Kingston, pled guilty on Thursday, December 15, 2016, in Ulster County Court before Honorable Donald A. Williams to Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree, a Class “D” felony.  Williams admitted that on or about April 10, 2016, he advanced or profited from prostitution of a child under nineteen years old.    

The defendant was charged earlier this year after a joint investigation of the Ulster County Family and Child Advocacy Center and the Kingston Police Department.  The investigation revealed that the defendant was prostituting a sixteen year old child.

This is the first felony conviction for child trafficking in Ulster County since the Ulster County Department of Social Services was selected to receive funds under the Safe Harbour Program run the by New York State Office for Family and Child Services.  While the Safe Harbour Program is primarily aimed at protecting and securing services for sexually exploited youth, the monies are also used for raising community awareness and training of both service providers and law enforcement.

The success of this case was the result of the collaborative response both by law enforcement and by the Ulster County Department of Social Services.  Parties from every agency involved including the Ulster County Probation Department, the legal offices of the Department of Social Services and the Safe Harbour Critical Team worked together to allow swift action to be taken against this perpetrator and give the child victim an opportunity to receive services and get out of “the life” as it is commonly called.

The case is being prosecuted by Ulster County Special Victims Bureau Chief Katherine R. Van Loan.  The defendant is represented by John Evans, Esq., a member of the Dutchess County Public Defender’s assigned due to a conflict with the Ulster County Public Defender’s Office.    Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2017 in Ulster County Court.

 

 

Wallet lost or stolen

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR WALLET IS LOST OR STOLEN

 

While you’re struggling at the mall with bags of presents, identity thieves see an opportunity to steal your wallet and debit or credit card numbers.

According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, there are 5 steps consumers should take, the first of which should be done NOW before anything happens: 1) Make copies of all your credit cards, ID cards and licenses – everything in your wallet (both sides); if the card is stolen, 2) Call the companies that issued your credit cards. This should be done at once and you should follow up with a letter; 3) Call the three national credit-reporting agencies and ask them to attach a fraud alert to all your credit cards; 4) If your social security card is missing, call the Social Security Administration (fraud line). Also, be sure to call the Department of Motor Vehicles, as well as any other organizations from which you lost cards; 5) Call the police if you were a victim of theft. You may be required to show a police report to support your claim that a crime was committed.

 

Consumer Affairs can be reached at 340-3260.

 

Press Release - Snowplowing & Snow Removal Contracts

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: DECEMBER 8, 2016

RE:  SNOWPLOWING AND SNOW REMOVAL CONTRACTS

As winter approaches, many consumers will look to professionals to clear their driveways, storefronts and parking lots of snow and ice. The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs offers these tips to prevent misunderstandings and avoid unnecessary disputes:

• Get it in writing (all services, restrictions, obligations and refund policies);
• Be aware of additional fees (during and after big snowstorms);
• Ask for and contact references;
• Call Consumer Affairs at 340-3260 regarding unresolved prior complaints;
• Avoid large up-front deposits (periodic payments ensure customers are not paying for services not provided).

                                                                 

Press Release - Robert Bari Indictment

FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT

DATE: DECEMBER 7, 2016

RE: PRESS RELEASE – ROBERT BARI INDICTMENT

Robert Bari, age 37, of Milton, New York, was indicted on December 6, 2016 by an Ulster County Grand Jury on multiple felony counts of Insurance Fraud, Grand Larceny, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument, and Falsifying Business Records.  

The Grand Jury has charged that between January 11, 2012 and December 13, 2013 Robert Bari defrauded AFLAC Insurance Company by submitting numerous fraudulent disability claim forms thereby receiving benefits he was not entitled to receive. It is further alleged that between December 10, 2012 and September 15, 2013, Robert Bari defrauded AFLAC Insurance Company by submitting fraudulent policy applications thereby receiving commissions from AFLAC which he was not entitled to receive.

The case was investigated by NYS Department of Financial Services who have worked in conjunction with the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office in securing this indictment.

Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo stated, “Integrity and honesty must be at the core of how insurance agents conduct themselves. The Department of Financial Services’s investigation revealed that this defendant engaged in a deliberate pattern of illegal activities aimed solely at fraudulently enriching himself. DFS appreciates the opportunity to have worked on this investigation with District Attorney Carnright and commends him for bringing this defendant to justice.”

Defendant is represented by Lee Kindlon, Esq. of Albany.

The defendant’s arraignment will take place at a yet to be determined date in Ulster County Court.

Press Release - Kaj-Erik Eriksen

PRESS RELEASE

FROM:     HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DATE:     DECEMBER 2, 2016

The Appellate Division, Third Department, on December 1, 2016, unanimously affirmed the May, 2015 conviction of Kaj-Erik Eriksen, a/k/a Richard Lewis upon a jury verdict convicting him of the crimes of predatory sexual assault against a child in the first degree, a class A-II felony, course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, a class B violent felony, criminal sexual act in the second degree, two counts, a class D violent felony, and criminal sexual act in the third degree, a class E felony. 

Defendant’s convictions stem from an ongoing course of conduct which occurred between 2004 and 2012 and involved three different boys, ages 13 thru 17.  Over this eight year period, the defendant, a Kingston resident, engaged in sexual abuse against the three victims. The defendant engaged in this conduct after befriending the victims and their families.

Each of his victims, who were, at the time of trial 18, 19 and 21 years of age respectively, testified against him at trial about the sexual abuse to which they had been subjected. 

Following his conviction, defendant, a dangerous serial pedophile, was sentenced by County Court Judge Donald A. Williams to an aggregate prison term of 68 years to life. 

On appeal, defendant claimed that the trial court improperly denied his pre-Miranda and post-Miranda statements to police.  The Appellate Division, Third Department, however, concluded that defendant was not in custody prior to his receipt of Miranda warnings and that the trial court’s ruling was in all respects correct.

The Appellate Division, Third Department also determined that the sentence imposed by County Court, while lengthy, was not unduly harsh or excessive given the abhorrent and particularly egregious nature of the offenses, the fact that defendant’s adult life has been marked by his repeated sexual abuse of juvenile boys and noting his prior convictions from the State of Washington under a different name did not deter him from engaging in this despicable behavior. 

On appeal, the defendant is represented by Cynthia Feathers, Esq. of Glens Falls, New York.  Assistant District Attorney Joan Gudesblatt Lamb, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.