Court: Graffiti Artist Pleads Not Guilty, Alleged Kohl's Thief Faces Immigration Court

A Port Chester man denies he's the person behind a ubiquitous graffiti tag in town.

Daniel Cordero, 20, entered a not guilty plea in court Friday. He's charged with 14 counts of making graffiti and faces thousands of dollars in fines after he was spotted plying his trade by a former police officer on Aug. 4.

Daniel Cordero's "Uno" tag was becoming a headache for village police, who had spotted the graffiti in more than a dozen places across Port Chester. But former village trustee and retired police officer Dominick Cicatelli saw the 20-year-old putting the tag on a transformer on Regent Street and called police. Cicatelli then followed Cordero until officers arrived to make the arrest.

Cordero was released on $500 bail.

On Thursday, the young man was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of making graffiti, one count of third-degree criminal trespass and one count of possession of graffiti instruments – that is, spray paint. He'll be back in court on September 23.

DA: Alleged Thief Confessed, Security Vids Back Up Charges

A prosecutor said a Port Chester man admitted destroying a security camera system in an attempt to knock out surveillance at a public housing development.

Jeffrey Stamps, 22, of 45 Traverse Avenue and John Jones, 28, of 70 Purdy Avenue are accused of together breaking into the security rooms at their respective residences on July 8 and stealing video monitors and computer equipment. Further, the equipment left behind at the Traverse Avenue building was soaked in gasoline.

Police are continuing an investigation to find out what the men were trying to hide when they targeted the surveillance systems.

On Thursday Assistant District Attorney Grant O'Donnell said that Jones confessed to the crime, and the DA's office is in possession of security tapes from both buildings. O'Donnell asked for $10,000 bail for each man, but Judge Joseph Vita set Stamps' bail at $1,000 and Jones' bail at $2,500 because he is already on probation for a 2008 petty larceny conviction.

The cases were adjourned to August 26.

Alleged Kohl's Thief Arraigned, Faces Immigration Court

A Port Chester resident originally from Brazil is charged with felony grand larceny after allegedly from Kohl's department store.

Maria Carolina Pancracio, 32, allegedly tried to hide jewelry and clothing underneath her 3-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter while pushing their stroller around the store on the evening of August 16.

Pancracio's attorney Thursday said the woman's cousin, who was present in court, is watching the children. Judge Vita said the defendant is the subject of an immigration hold, meaning there is a problem with her immigration status and she will have to appear in federal court upon being released from police custody.

Vita put Pancracio's bail at $750 cash and $1,500 bond, and adjourned the case to August 26.

Port Chester Woman Arraigned After Surrendering on Drug Warrant

A local woman who skipped court last week after a small amount of heroin was found in her car turned herself in to police on Wednesday.

Michelle Flowers is charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She was riding in the passenger seat of her car on Aug. 12, when a male friend driving the car made an illegal right on red and was pulled over by police. Upon finding out that the man didn't have a driver's license, police searched the car and found the drugs.

Flowers missed court on Aug. 13, but she has been attending Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities (TASC), the screening and treatment program that suspects in drug arrests and DUIs are required to attend. However, Judge Vita said Thursday that she has received "a series of negative reports" from her counselor.

Flowers' attorney entered a not guilty plea and said the woman "is ready and willing to cooperate with the program," but Vita was skeptical.

"They are always ready and willing when they're in handcuffs," the judge said.

Flowers will be back in court on Friday.

Arraignment in Petty Larceny Case

Shatara Stevens, 27, of Port Chester is charged with petty larceny after allegedly stealing $58.94 worth of clothing from a store on Boston Post Road. She was released on $250 bail. Stevens was arraigned and assigned a lawyer on Thursday, and the case was adjourned to September 13.