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Woman Admits Setting Fire To Hudson Valley Home With Daughter, Grandchildren Inside, DA Says
A woman has pleaded guilty to attempted arson in connection with intentionally setting fire to a Hudson Valley home with her and her grandchildren inside.
Niagara County resident Itita Washington-Thompson, age 48, of Niagara, made the plea on Monday, Sept. 16, said Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi.
Parisi said: "This case is a chilling example of how a domestic incident or dispute can escalate to dangerous extremes."
The incident occurred on Friday, May 24, at Hammersley Avenue in Poughkeepsie.
According to officials and court documents, Washington-Thompson…
Former Teacher Accused Of Touching, Kissing Student At High School In Westchester
A retired music teacher of more than two decades faces criminal charges after allegedly taking a student behind a high school auditorium curtain in Westchester and kissing them, officials announced.
Hartsdale resident Michael Rubino, age 63, was arrested in connection with an incident at Hastings High School in June involving the unwanted touching and kissing of an underage student, the Westchester County District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
According to the DA's Office, at around 10:15 a.m. on Monday, June 10, Rubino, who taught music with Hastings public schoo…
New Details: Ex-Husband Shot Way Into NY Home Before Killing Woman, Her BF, DA Says
Authorities have released new details in the case of a New York couple who were shot to death inside their home.
Long Island resident Daniel Coppola, age 50, of St. James, was arraigned on four counts of first-degree murder in Suffolk County Court on Friday, Sept. 6, in the deaths of his ex-wife Kelly Coppola and her boyfriend, Kenneth Pohlman.
Suffolk County Police found Mrs. Coppola, age 50, and Pohlman, age 52, dead from gunshot wounds inside their St. James residence on Brasswood Road shortly before midnight on Wednesday, Aug. 28.
Earlier Report: Accused Murderer Ranted About Pr…
Tinder Luring: 19-Year-Old Gets Decade In Prison For Ambush Robbery In Region
A 19-year-old man will spend a decade behind bars for his role in an ambush robbery in the region.
Rensselaer County resident William Camino, of Troy, was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Rensselaer County Court on Wednesday, Aug. 28, a month after pleading guilty to first-degree robbery.
According to prosecutors, Camino and two others – Katrina Carroll, age 24, and Terry Adams, age 18, both of Troy – used the dating app Tinder to lure a man into an alleyway near Congress and Cypress streets in Troy at around 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18.
Earlier Report: Dating App Setup: Trio Charged I…
Woman From Region Admits To Crashing Stolen Car Into 5 People On Sidewalk
Peekskill, A Northern Westchester woman has pleaded guilty to crashing a stolen car into five pedestrians, including two children.
The incident causing serious injuries happened on Friday, March 15, in Manhattan.
Sharon Goodwin, age 32, of Peekskill, pleaded guilty in a New York State Supreme Court to one count of second-degree assault, a felony.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. announced that, under the terms of the plea, she is expected to be sentenced to four and a half years in state prison on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
“Addressing vehicular violence is an essential …
$280K Scam: Father, Daughter Accused Of Stealing From Hudson Valley Woman
A man and daughter have been accused of stealing over $280,000 from a Hudson Valley resident.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday, Aug. 13, the indictments and arrests of Ulster County residents Frank Whittaker, age 56, of Kingston, and his daughter Christine Ellsworth, age 38, of Accord, for allegedly stealing more than $280,000 from a vulnerable elderly victim.
After earning the trust of the victim, an Ulster County resident, by providing lawn maintenance and assisting with household tasks, Whittaker and Ellsworth gained access to the then-92-year-old’s checkbook …
Hudson Valley Dealer Admits Selling Fentanyl, Causing 3 Deaths, 3 Overdoses
A Hudson Valley man has admitted in court that he sold fentanyl that resulted in three deaths and three overdoses, according to Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
The incidents occurred in Rockland County between Feb. 2020 and April 2022.
Williams said Justin Turnick, age 25, of Congers, pled guilty to distributing the fentanyl causing the deaths and overdoses on Tuesday, Aug. 6, in US District Court.
“Justin Turnick’s actions didn’t just facilitate addiction—they fueled a crisis that claimed lives and inflicted unimaginable suffering," Willaims said.
Acco…
Inmate Punches, Bites Corrections Officer At Capital Region Jail, Police Say
An inmate at a local jail is facing more charges after allegedly assaulting a corrections officer.
The incident happened Wednesday, May 22, at the Saratoga County jail in Ballston Spa, but was not reported publicly until Tuesday, July 2.
Sheriff’s officials said John Rathbun, age 26, punched a corrections officer in the face and bit him, causing injuries. The officer was treated at a medical facility and released.
Rathbun, who is homeless, was charged with second-degree assault, a felony.
He was arraigned in the Milton Town Court on Monday, July 1, and was taken back to the county jail w…
Man Accused Of Exposing Himself To Women In Hudson Valley
A Hudson Valley man has been charged with allegedly exposing himself to women walking in a residential area.
The incident occurred in Rockland County on Monday, June 3, in Chestnut Ridge.
According to Lt. Chris Franklin of the Ramapo Police, Orange County resident Joseph Perez, age 31, of Greenwood Lake, was exposing himself while in a vehicle in Chestnut Ridge.
An investigation was conducted by RPD Detectives, which resulted in the identification of the vehicle and the suspect, Franklin said.
On Wednesday, June 5, Perez was arrested and charged with:
Five counts of public lewdness
Five…
Hudson Valley Man Convicted In Fatal Stabbing Of Roommate
A 33-year-old Hudson Valley man is facing up to 25 years behind bars after being found guilty of fatally stabbing his roommate in the skull.
Related: Arrest Made In Gruesome Murder Of Poughkeepsie Man Stabbed In Head
Dutchess County resident Andrew Alex Fraser of Poughkeepsie was convicted of murder on Monday, May 13, after two days of jury deliberations.
According to the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, Fraser killed Dontay Brown, age 24, during a knife attack, which resulted in a fatal stab wound into Brown’s skull, on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at…
Hudson Valley Sex Offender Headed To Prison For 'Severely' Beating And Robbing Man
A Hudson Valley Level 2 sex offender has been sentenced to prison for robbing and beating a man unconscious.
Related Story: Middletown Sex Offender Charged With Violent Assault, Police Say
Orange County resident David Johnson, age 47, of Middletown, was sentenced on Tuesday, May 7, to six years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision for the Sunday, March 12, 2023 incident, said Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler.
According to documents filed and statements made in court, Johnson approached a man entering a grocery store in the City of Mi…
Man Sentenced For Murdering Ex-Girlfriend's Daughter In Hudson Valley
A Hudson Valley man has been sentenced for stabbing his ex-girlfriend's daughter to death.
Dutchess County resident Paul Senecal, age 39, of the city of Poughkeepsie, was sentenced on Monday, April 10, to life in prison without the possibility of parole, said Dutchess County Chief Assistant District Attorney, Matthew Weishaupt.
Senecal was convicted by a jury in February of murder in the first degree, and two counts of murder in the second degree, along with other charges in the stabbing death of Melanie Chianese, age 29, in her town of Wappinger home, Weishaupt said.
“The …
Hudson Valley 19-Year-Old Charged With Rape After 'Incidents In Various Locations,' Police Say
A Hudson Valley 19-year-old man has been charged with rape after allegedly sexually assaulting a minor over several years.
Orange County resident John Pelcin, of Monroe, was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 29, according to Trooper Steven Nevel of the New York State Police.
According to Nevel, on Friday, Sept. 2, the village of Monroe Police Department initiated an investigation into sexual assaults of a minor that had occurred over several years.
On Friday, Nov. 18, the New York State Police Monroe barracks was contacted to assist with the investigation. The investigation revealed t…
