NEW WINDSOR – The release of Mark Nelson, a level three registered sex offender, who approached two female employees and two young children in the fenced-in playground of a New Windsor nursery school this week, has incensed area politicians.
State Assemblyman Colin Schmitt said, “Due to the outrageous dangerous criminal justice changes and bail elimination this pervert was released without bail and is a free man able to immediately prey again on young children in our community,” the lawmaker said.
Schmitt has called a news conference for Friday morning to call for the end of the bail reforms. He will be joined by Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler and Sheriff Carl DuBois.
But, New Windsor Town Supervisor George Meyers, a retired State Police official, said there needs to be less grandstanding and more action. “There is going to be a major disaster someplace; this one was avoided. The New Windsor Police were on top of it very quick. These other politicians holding press conferences and ranting and raving are not doing any good,” he said. “In my opinion, the only people protecting the residents these days are the police and your local politicians, your supervisors and council people. That’s it; nobody else. I don’t care what anybody says.”
Meyers acknowledged that the State Assembly is Democrat-controlled and with area members being predominantly Republicans, their votes tend to be meaningless.
