Burgher
KINGSTON – A Kingston man was found guilty in Ulster County Court on three counts of aggravated family offense.
On February 24, 2016, Kingston City Police responded to several calls reporting a woman screaming. The victim had tried to protect herself that morning from Charles Burgher, 25, by shutting herself inside her bathroom. Burgher broke down the door then threatened to hit her with a metal pot until she was cornered in the bathroom, lying in a box of cat litter. She was able to secretly call the police while at the same time, a downstairs neighbor who heard the screaming also called police.
Three officers responded within minutes and arrested Burgher.
Aggravated family offense, enacted in 2012, is a felony designed to address repeat domestic violence offenders who continue to commit misdemeanor offenses against their victims.
Burgher had previously been convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor in January 2015 against a different victim. The prior conviction elevated his crimes on February 24, 2016 to the felonies of aggravated family offense. Burgher has three other convictions for domestic violence crimes.
When sentenced in March, he faces up to two to four years in state prison.
