Levy: Smith is ‘Delusional,’ ‘Paranoid’

The recently exposed letter from Carmel attorney William Sayegh to Sheriff Don Smith describes how the man who has served as the county’s top law enforcement officer since 2002 is allegedly consumed  with thoughts of conspiracy and corruption.

“You are haunted with ideas of criminality all around you,” the letter, which Sayegh sent in late October said.

“You believe many people are conspiring to do evil work. You have told me that these people are corrupt and planning against you and the county.” Sayegh at the time was an advisor on the payroll for the sheriff. His position was cut from the county budget in January.

District Attorney Adam Levy said that the message in the letter was no surprise. “It is what I have been saying for five years,” said Levy, “What I have seen is a steady decline in Don’s mental health. He is clearly delusional… absolutely paranoid. This guy literally believes that if you disagree with him on any subject that you must be corrupt.”

Levy said that he was first accused of being corrupt by Smith after recommending that town attorneys handle traffic violations in court rather than the deputies.

“It was my decision to make, but I went to Don and tried to explain to him how this would save the taxpayers money,” said Levy. “He told me that I was corrupt.”

Levy claims that it only got worse from there. It escalated on March 20 when Alexandru lonut Hossu. Levy’s former personal trainer was arrested for the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl and a release issued by the sheriff ’s department listed Hossu’s address as Levy address in Southeast.

Similar: Putnam D.A.’s Live-in Personal Trainer Charged with Rape of 12-year-old Girl

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

Similar: Putnam Sheriff Responds to D.A.’s Rape Case Statement

“[Smith] accused me of criminal conduct,” said Levy. “He said that I hindered and interfered with an investigation, yet if he has any evidence of that why hasn’t anyone arrested me. He knows where I work and thanks to his office everyone knows where I live with my family. Why hasn’t [Smith or the Westchester District Attorney’s office] arrested me? They have the authority to do so.”

According to Levy, the sheriff ’s office knew that Hossu was living at 221 Clock Tower Commons since at least July 10, 2012 because the deputies responded to a call there. Levy claims that Hossu’s former girlfriend broke in to his living quarters, huffed some aerosol cans and locked herself in the bathroom.

“[Smith’s] deputies knew Hossu was living there. They did not call immigration. They did not issue any building violations. When they needed to get an arrest warrant to arrest Hossu at home they used the Clock Tower address,” said Levy, who claims he did not know that Hossu used his address on his license. “All of the facts show that he lived at the Clock Tower Commons address.”

Levy said that former Sheriff Robert Thoubboron, who was cited by a 2002 State Commission of Investigation report as using intimidation tactics and for abusing the power of the office, pales in comparison to Smith.

“Don Smith is worse than Thoubboron was at his all-time worst,” said Levy. “Don Smith is a bold-faced liar.”

Christopher York, the chief assistant district attorney who recently announced his intention to run for sheriff, concurs with Levy’s statements.

“We have seen it where he has tried to go after perceived political enemies,” said York. “There was an investigation done on Tony Hay in Southeast while he was running against Michael Rights for town supervisor. Rights we believe was associated with the sheriff and they came close to locking Tony up for petition forgery.”

The D.A.’s office got involved and had additional investigators look into the claims.

“It came back as unfounded,” said York. “And we found it to be troubling.”

York claims that while the sheriff talks about corruption in the county, that he is in fact the only person running for sheriff who has done anything about corrupt politicians.

“I have personally investigated and took down corrupt elected officials,” said York who criminally prosecuted former highway superintendents Charlie Williams Jr. of Patterson and Michael Fila of Southeast.

County Executive MaryEllen Odell admitted to being accused of corruption as well.

“Whenever you are dealing with the sheriff and you have a disagreement, he always seems to pull out the corruption card,” she said.

Kevin McConville, who is also seeking the Republican nob for sheriff, said that accusing other officials of wrong doing is not good for a department and is not good for the county.

During my law enforcement experience, I worked with district attorneys from 16 different counties and never had a problem,” said McConville. “I was willing to work to benefit the public good which is what we elect people to do.”

Remembering the conspiracy that plagued the county during Thoubboron’s tenure, McConville wonders if anything has changed. “An elected official should not have to worry about falling in line with someone else,” he said “I believe that elected officials should be able to disagree with the sheriff; that is part of life. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.”

Smith said that he would not discuss anything about Levy because “we have a very important investigation that is being handled by the Westchester District Attorney’s office and we have really not been part of the media frenzy.”

Nevertheless, Smith is not backing down from his accusations.

“I think we all know there is corruption in government. I truly believe we have problems here in Putnam County,” he said.

In Smith’s letter to Sayegh two months after receiving initial correspondence the point was reiterated.

“Bill, I just can’t stand by and let corruption continue to penetrate county government in Putnam,” he said. “I believe then and I still believe that there is still a culture of corruption in Putnam County that existed during the Vinnie Leibell years and still exists in those he trained.”

Smith thinks that the masses appreciate that he has a zero tolerance policy for corruption.