Chimney Sweeps Arrested and Charged After Operating Illegally in Putnam
Putnam County Consumer Affairs Director Jean Noel and Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith jointly reported the arrests in separate incidents of two men for conducting unregistered chimney sweep work in Putnam County.
The men charged are employees of the same chimney cleaning and repair company, a business headquartered on Long Island. Both defendants were charged with misdemeanor offenses under the Putnam County Code, which requires registration of home contractors, and one of the men was also charged with drug and weapons offenses.
Christopher F. Lyon, 31, of Manhattan, was arrested on Saturday, July 28, and charged with performing chimney cleaning work at a home in Patterson without being properly registered to conduct such work. His arrest was the result of a joint investigation by County Code Enforcement Officer Mary Craig of the Department of Consumer Affairs Licensing Enforcement Unit and Sheriff’s Investigator Robert Ferris.
Evan R. Roche, 28, of Farmingville, Long Island, was arrested in Mahopac on Monday, July 30 after he reportedly did chimney cleaning at a residence in that hamlet. Code Enforcement Officer Craig and Sheriff’s Investigator Jeffrey Devolve investigated that case.
In addition to the unregistered contracting offense,Investigator Devolve also charged Roche with unlawful possession of marijuana and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon after the defendant was allegedly found to have the drug, an unlicensed .22-caliber pistol and a set of metal knuckles in his work van.
When arrested, Lyon and Roche were working for a business known as Empire Chimney Corporation out of Long Island, which is not registered to perform chimney work in Putnam County. The company is believed to operate under at least two other corporate names: All Care Chimney Corporation and World Class Chimney Corporation.
Lyon was arraigned before Kent Town Justice Peter Collins, acting on behalf of the Town of Patterson Justice Court, and was remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $500 cash bail, which he posted on the day of his arrest. He is scheduled to appear in Patterson Court on Sept. 20 at 5 p.m.
Roche was arraigned before Carmel Town Justice Joseph Spofford, who remanded him to the jail in lieu of $2,500.00 cash bail or bail bond. Mr. Roche’s bail was posted on the day after his arrest to secure his release. He is due back in Carmel Court on Aug. 20 at 6 p.m.
The contracting code charges against both men are misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and fines of up to $1,000.00. The weapons charges against Mr. Roche are also misdemeanors and carry similar penalties, whereas the marijuana charge is a violation punishable by a fine.
An investigation is continuing and additional charges may be forthcoming in the case.
Any Putnam County residents who have had, or who have made arrangements to have, work done by Empire Chimney Corporation, All Care Chimney Corporation or World Class Chimney Corporation are asked to notify the Sheriff’s Office at 845-225-4300 or the Putnam County Department of Consumer Affairs at 845-808-1617.
The above is press release from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
