Woman Admits To Hate Crime For Harassing Area Family Whose Child Had Rare Disorder

A Long Island woman has pleaded guilty to aggravated harassment as a hate crime in connection to threatening a Hudson Valley family whose child has a rare genetic disease.

A Long Island woman has pleaded guilty to a hate crime for harassing a family whose child has a rare genetic disorder.
Photo Credit: *Pixabay/QuinceCreative*

Kathy Reakes

02/09/2021 11:30 a.m.

Krista Sewell of Melville, in Suffolk County, entered the guilty plea on Friday, Feb. 5, in Ulster County.

In pleading guilty, Sewell admitted to sending electronic messages and a letter to a local Ulster County family harassing and threatening their infant daughter who has the rare genetic skin condition harlequin ichthyosis, said the Ulster County District Attorney's Office.

Sewell was arrested for the crime in late 2019 following a lengthy investigation by the New York State Police and the Ulster County Sherriff’s Office into the messages.

Sewell, who had no criminal record prior to these events, was sentenced to five years’ probation along with a period of incarceration.

As part of the sentence, the court ordered that Sewell have no contact with the minor, her family, or any other individuals with the condition.

She was also and ordered to register her social media accounts with the Probation Department and permit the Probation Department to monitor her online activity to prevent future harassing behavior.

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