ELLENVILLE – Eight teenage boys were discovered Wednesday morning in an old restaurant at 211 South Main Street in Ellenville that had been previously condemned and they told authorities they had been there for a week.
The building had been posted with orders from the village.
The Hassidic youths, the oldest of whom was 16, had bottled water. There was no running water and unsanitary conditions, Police Chief Phillip Mattracion said. Baby chickens were even found in the building in violation of village code.
Following investigation, police arrested Burec Stein, 24, of Brooklyn, who was charged with eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child and other charges related to village ordinance violations.
Stein desdcribed himself as a rabbi/teacher.
Central Hudson Gas and Electric was notified and responded to cut the power to the building and the village further boarded up the building to prevent further unlawful entries.
The chicks were relocated to be properly cared for.
Pursuant to state bail reform, Stein was issued an appearance ticket to village court.
