Youth offender among men charged
Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reported that three Westchester County men have been arrested for alleged thefts from the Garrison Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The trio allegedly conspired to steal a key to the ambulance corps offices and then use it on several occasions to enter the offices and steal property, including a gasoline credit card with which they made numerous purchases of gasoline.
Eric K. Bohler, aged 20, of 122 Gallows Hill Road in Cortlandt, was charged with burglary in the third degree, grand larceny in the fourth degree and conspiracy in the fifth degree.
Christopher J. Riecke, aged 17, of 223 First St. in Buchanan, was charged with burglary in the third degree and conspiracy in the fifth degree.
The third defendant, a 16-year-old male from Cortlandt, was charged with petit larceny. His identity is being withheld as he appears to be an eligible youthful offender.
The burglary charge is a class D felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of $5,000. The grand larceny charge is a class E felony, punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine of $5,000. The conspiracy and petit larceny charges are class A misdemeanors, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $1,000.
The property thefts and illicit gas purchases allegedly occurred on several dates in January and February. Ambulance corps officials became aware of the unauthorized credit card purchases and notified the sheriff’s office on Feb. 21. Deputy Sheriff Robert Detlefs and Sergeant Michael Szabo investigated the complaint and identified the three defendants as the alleged perpetrators.
Detlefs arrested the three men on March 10, and they were arraigned that day before Philipstown Town Justice Stephen Tomann. Bohler was ordered to post cash bail of $100 to secure his release, which he posted the same day. Riecke and the 16-year-old were released on their own recognizance pending further court proceedings.
