Putnam D.A. Levy Claims Errors in Sheriff’s Rape Case Press Release

Putnam District Attorney Adam Levy fired back at the county’s sheriff department which he claims provided inaccurate information to the press and public. The sheriff’s department issued a press release on Thursday, March 21 that indicated that Alexandru Ionut Hossu, an illegal immigrant and defendant in an alleged rape case involving a 12-year-old girl, had lived in the same residence as Levy.

“On March 20, 2013, members of the Sherriff’s Department arrested Mr. Hossu on a warrant at his residence at 221 Clock Tower Commons Dr., in Brewster,” said Levy in a statement. “On March 21, 2013, Sheriff Smith issued a press release that omitted the place of Mr. Hossu’s arrest as his residence at 221 Clock Tower Commons Drive and instead, erroneously listed Mr. Hossu’s address as 70 Indian Wells Road, my address.”

See the sheriff’s response.

Levy claimed to another media outlet on March 21 that Hossu had not lived in his house for the past six months. No mention on Hossu’s alleged former-residence was mentioned in Levy’s statement on March 22.

The 221 Clock Tower Commons Dr. address that Levy gave is the former address of Greg Ball’s office when he was the state assemblyman. He moved to 1441 Route 22 Suite 205 in Brewster, after becoming a state senator in 2011.

“During my election to State Senate in 2010, we had a campaign office that we rented for several months in Clocktower Commons. Logically, that campaign office was closed soon after my successful election in November of 2010,” Ball said. “We have not rented space in that location since then. Clocktower Commons is exclusively for retail and office use. Therefore, the two conflicting statements by Levy suggesting that his illegal alien associate lived at Clocktower Commons at all, while a large complex indeed, seems strikingly odd and worth investigating.”

The Clock Tower Commons, which is owned by developer Harold Lepler, is zoned as Special Route 22 District, which allows for retail use, offices, personal or professional services, restaurants or recreation. There is no residences allowed within the district.

Multiple sources have confirmed that Hossu lives at Levy’s home with his alleged  21-year-old girlfriend, Jennifer Bartlett.  The website peoplesmart.com, which provides access to public records lists the Indian Wells Road residence as the address of Bartlett.

Levy’s wife and their son and daughter also live in the house.

Hossu, 35, was arrested shortly before midnight Wednesday and arraigned in Patterson Justice Court on a charge of first-degree rape, a class B felony.

He is being held without bail at the Putnam County Jail in Carmel. He’s due in Southeast Town Court on April 2.

The complaint alleges that the defendant forcibly raped the victim twice on Oct. 24, 2010, when she was 12 years old. The case came to the attention of authorities only recently, after the victim reported the alleged rape to a school counselor. The victim, who is now 15, and the defendant reportedly knew each other.

Levy’s office said that his daughter is not the alleged victim.

Hossu has been identified as a Romanian citizen. Investigators have determined that the defendant is in the United States unlawfully, having entered the country on a temporary work visa that expired about 12 years ago. He reportedly has been working in the Putnam County area as a personal fitness trainer for several years.

The defendant was arraigned before Patterson Town Justice Anthony Mole, who ordered him remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bail bond.

The judge also ordered the defendant to surrender his passport. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have lodged a detainer warrant for Hossu with the Correctional Facility for potential immigration proceedings.

The Sheriff’s Office investigated the case in conjunction with caseworkers from the Putnam County Child Advocacy Center (“CAC”) and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, as a conflict precluded the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office from involvement in the investigation.

“This was a vicious crime committed against a little girl,” Putnam Sheriff Don Smith said. “I thank our sheriff’s investigators and deputies, the Child Advocacy Center team and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in bringing the alleged perpetrator to justice.”

Levy, who ran unopposed in 2011, was first elected as Putnam D.A. in 2007. Levy has run on a platform of being tough on child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence.

Prior to being the county D.A., Levy practiced law in Carmel and was the former president of the Putnam County Bar Association. He was also an assistant district attorney for Suffolk County.

Levy, who is the son of Judy Sheindlin, who is more commonly known as TV personality, Judge Judy, insists that he did nothing wrong.

“Upon learning that the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department was investigating an allegation against Mr. Alexandru Hossu, who my family had known for years, I immediately requested the appointment of an independent prosecutor,” said Levy. “At the same time, my office contacted the chief of the sex crimes investigations unit of the Westchester County District Attorney’s office. This was to ensure the 15 year-old complainant was safe, secure and provided with all necessary services to reduce the overwhelming trauma associated with a disclosure of this type.

“The Westchester County District Attorney was formally assigned the task of assisting the Sheriff in the investigation and to provide whatever guidance, support and advice was necessary to ensure the case was handled in a professional and objective manner. Those were my obligations as district attorney and I performed them without hesitation.”

Levy denies having any knowledge about Hossu’s immigration status.

The sheriff’s department is standing by the statement it released.