By Michael Turton
As a rule, the vast majority of cases that come before Cold Spring’s Justice Court are settled without a trial. The March 11 session of that court proved to be the exception as trial dates were set for two ongoing cases.
Cold Spring resident Richard Weissbrod faces a charge of harassment in the second degree. His trial was set for April 16 at the Justice Court. Weissbrod is alleged to have harassed a resident at a Cold Spring polling station on Election Day in March 2014.
The case involving Ray DiFrancesco, operator of Whistling Willie’s American Grill, will go to trial at the Justice Court on May 18. DiFrancesco is charged with three misdemeanors — assault, reckless endangerment and making a false statement — in connection with an incident that occurred near the restaurant in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, 2014.
At Wednesday’s court session Judge Thomas Costello indicated that two motions filed by DiFrancesco’s attorney; one to have the case dismissed and another to disqualify Judge Costello, were rejected by the Putnam County Supreme Court.
