PRESS RELEASE
FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: FEBRUARY 1, 2018
The
Appellate Division, Third Department has unanimously affirmed the resentence of
Christopher Zaorski upon his conviction of the crimes of burglary in the first
degree and assault in the second degree.
Defendant’s
conviction stems from an incident which occurred very early on the morning of
April 20, 2008 in Pine Bush. At that
time, the victim, out walking his dog, observed suspicious activity outside his
neighbor’s home and confronted the defendant, whom he observed prowling
around. During the physical
confrontation which ensued, the victim was seriously injured, later requiring
13 staples and eight stitches to close cuts to his head and scalp. During the subsequent investigation, police
discovered that jewelry and other items had been taken by defendant from the
neighbor’s residence.
The
defendant was initially sentenced by Ulster County Court Judge Donald A.
Williams to concurrent determinate terms of 15 years for the burglary and seven
years on the assault followed by five years of postrelease supervision. He was, however, resentenced in 2015 to the same
term of imprisonment as County Court failed to assign him new counsel in connection
with a previous motion to withdraw his plea.
On
appeal, defendant challenged the resentence on the ground it was harsh and
excessive. This claim, however, was
rejected by the Appellate Division, Third Department.
On
appeal, defendant is represented by David E. Woodin, Esq. of Catskill, New York.
Assistant District Attorney Joan
Gudesblatt Lamb, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.
