MONTICELLO – A 64-year-old Parksville man has been indicted by a Sullivan County grand jury on two counts of felony criminal contempt and five counts of misdemeanor criminal contempt, as well as three counts of stalking and a violation for trespass. All of the conduct alleged by the indictment relates to Joseph Peters ongoing offenses against two of his neighbors on Main Street in Parksville.
It is alleged that Peters violated orders of protection issued by the Town of Fallsburg Justice Court which required him to stay away from and refrain from any communication with both of the victims.
It is also alleged that Peters repeatedly engaged in conduct which placed the victims in reasonable fear of injury over the period of April 2020 through October 2020. The indictment also alleged that he engaged in several specific acts that were prohibited by the orders of protection and unlawfully entered the premises of Cabernet Franks restaurant.
“There is a difference between simply not liking your neighbors and engaging in criminal conduct against them. It is alleged that Joseph Peters crossed that line and I recognize that offenses like those alleged by this indictment carry with them a heavy mental and emotional toll for the victims,” said Acting District Attorney Meagan Galligan. “If and when proven guilty in court, Peters will be held criminally responsible for that.”
Galligan said that Peters faces up to 1 1/3 to for years in prison if he is convicted of any felony criminal contempt count.
The DA thanked members of Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case.
