Village Court: Guilty Plea in Harassment Case and 3rd Domestic Assault Charge in 1 Year

Here's a look at what happened during Port Chester Court's Sept. 3 session. Court is in session every Monday, Thursday and Friday.

A Port Chester man pleaded guilty Friday to violating an order of protection taken out against him by his ex-wife.

Charles Greene of Franklin Street was originally charged with four counts of misdemeanor criminal contempt for violating the order of protection on May 17, June 7, July 6 and July 21 of this year by repeatedly phoning the victim and leaving dozens of voicemails.

But the DA's office offered to allow him to make a plea only to the most recent incident. He admitted that on July 21, he phoned his ex-wife more than 50 times before 6:30 a.m. and left several voicemails.

The attorneys and court documents did not specify how the original order of protection came about, though the orders are almost always the result of a physical attack or the threat of physical violence.

Greene was released on his own recognizance Friday, and will be back in court Dec. 17 for sentencing. Judge Castaneda said he would be sentenced to three years of probation and 30 days of incarceration, but Greene has already been in custody for a month and will receive credit for time served.

The order of protection was extended through 2015.

Local Man Balks at Plea Deal in Harassment Case

A Port Chester resident accused of threatening a woman's life was set to accept a plea deal on Friday, but took issue with the supposed facts of the case.

Walter Linares was originally charged with felony aggravated harassment for allegedly calling the woman repeatedly on July 27 and threatening to kill her. According to the DA' s office - and the victim - Linares said he "was going to kill her in two or three days." It was unclear how Linares and the victim are related.

He was offered a plea to misdemeanor aggravated harassment, and he initially agreed. But when Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Adimari read the accusation, Linares denied making the threat. He claimed, through an interpreter, that he called the woman repeatedly and she never answered the phone.

"There seems to be an issue about the underlying facts, so we're going to need a week to work that out," Linares' attorney said.

Judge Castaneda suggested that Linares request a jury trial if he believes the accusation is false. The case was put off to Sept. 10.

Suspect in Heroin Case on Thin Ice with Court

A local woman who was found to be in possession of a small amount of heroin during a traffic stop has received a series of negative reports from court-appointed counselors and could be thrown back in jail.

Michelle Flower was riding in the passenger seat of her car Aug. 12 when her boyfriend, who was driving the car, made an illegal turn and was pulled over by police. The man had no license, so the police searched the car and found the drugs. Flower is now charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Flower skipped an arraignment on Aug. 13, but surrendered to police on Aug. 18. She provided proof to the court that she was in a hospital receiving methadone treatments.

Since then, according to Judge Castaneda, Flower has repeatedly clashed with counselors from Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities (TASC), a substance abuse program that all suspects in DWIs and drug possession cases must attend.

"The report says, 'she doesn't seem to have the minimum motivation required to complete the program'," Castaneda said. "That is what troubles me the most."

Flower's attorney said she is enrolled in New Rochelle Outreach, a program similar to TASC, and will begin counseling next week. Castaneda said that if she doesn't start to receive positive reports he will have her arrested and held on bail.

The ADA was also fed up.

"[TASC has] had it with her, and I've had it with her," Adimari said. "She keeps saying that she doesn't like the programs, but it's not up to her."

Castaneda adjourned the case for two weeks.

Case of Driver Who Hit Stone Wall Adjourned

A Greenwich man who crashed into a stone wall on Boston Post Road at Olivia Street made his third court appearance on Friday.

Andres Reyes, 22, allegedly sped out of the parking lot of Bally's in the early morning hours of Aug. 17, catching the attention of a police officer. The officer lost Reyes' 2007 Honda, but then heard a loud crash. When police arrived, Reyes and three teenage passengers were standing outside of the car. They declined medical attention, and Reyes was found to be intoxicated.

Reyes is now charged with his first DWI, along with a charge of speeding and reckless driving.

Judge Castaneda adjourned the case to Sept. 17 to give Reyes more time to attend a mandatory counseling program.