Hossu Indicted By Grand Jury
Alexandru Hossu, a Southeast resident accused of raping a 12-year-old girl in 2010, was indicted last Tuesday on felony charges by a grand jury, a spokesman for the Westchester District Attorney’s Office said.
The DA’s office wouldn’t name the specific charges Hossu faces but Hossu’s attorney, Robert Altchiler, vowed his client would not be pleading guilty.
“This case is either going to end in an outright acquittal or a dismissal before trial. There’s going to be not a single plea conversation,” said Altchiler. “My client is 100 percent innocent, and we are going to prevail.”
Hossu, the former live-in trainer and family friend of Putnam County District Attorney Adam Levy, testified before the 23-person grand jury, Altchiler said.
Hossu, 35, was arrested March 20 and accused of “forcibly and violently” raping the young girl. Hossu’s arrest ignited a heated exchange between Sheriff Don Smith and Levy, who have long disliked each other, after Smith listed Hossu’s residence as Levy’s home address. The Westchester DA’s office is handling the prosecution, as Levy recused himself.
The DA spokesman said an indictment will now be filed and Hossu will be arraigned and in the next week or two. Altchiler said he plans to file a motion to dismiss the charges. The attorney blasted Smith for listing his client’s address as Levy’s and by linking Hossu and Levy in public statements.
“I would say that the sheriff did a very efficient, effective and intentional job of poisoning the jury pool against my client,” said Altchiler. “So when the time comes to assess whether or not a petit jury pool can be fair, we will examine that and weigh the different options but there’s no doubt it my mind that the sheriff achieved what he wanted to do in poisoning public perception with blatant lies.”
Smith had previously suggested Levy was hampering the investigation.
“The facts in this alleged rape of a little girl must be tried in the courtroom—not in the media,” Smith said in an e-mail on Monday. “I have full trust and confidence that the Westchester County prosecutor, the presiding judge, and the jury will ensure that justice is done in this case.”
The proceedings will now move to County Court, the Westchester DA’s office said.
