ALBANY – The New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association, the union representing uniformed New York State Troopers, has denounced Cortlandt Town Justice Kimberly Ragazzo in releasing a defendant – accused of assaulting a Trooper.
Bryan Illescas, a 22-year-old Cortlandt resident had been arrested on DWI and was issued an appearance ticket. When he was being picked up by his mother, Illescas punched a Trooper in the head, causing a significant laceration. He was subsequently arrested on assault charges. The original story can be found here.
“I am disgusted by the flippant attitude of Town of Cortlandt Justice Kimberly Ragazzo,” said NYSTPBA President Thomas Mungeer. “Despite the defendant’s displays of violence, including assaulting a Trooper, Justice Ragazzo chose to release him without even verifying his story.” The assailant had told the judge he had a college midterm in his Criminal Justice program and he needed to return to college.
“The assistant district attorney recommended that Illescas be required to pay $15,000 cash bail or a $30,000 bond in order to be released, but Justice Ragazzo ignored that and instead released him on his recognizance because she did not want him to miss a college midterm exam in criminal justice the next day,” said the angered union president.
“You cannot make this stuff up! My Troopers risk their lives every day making the roadways and neighborhoods of this state safe. The last thing they need to encounter is a soft-on-crime judge who has more sympathy for a failed criminal justice major than she does for the citizens of her jurisdiction, Mungeer said.
