Orange County 'Vigilante' Shooting: Reindictment by Westchester DA

An Orange County man who shot and killed a rape suspect in 2013 has been re-indicted and re-arraigned on murder and manslaughter charges.

David Carlson of Sparrowbush was arraigned today in Orange County Court on a three-count indictment charging him with second-degree murder and first- and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Norris Acosta-Sanchez, according to the Westchester County District Attorney, who is acting as special prosecutor because the current Orange County DA was Carlson’s first defense lawyer.

He pleaded “not guilty,” according to News12.

Carlson met Acosta-Sanchez in August 2013, hired him to do some odd jobs, took him shopping, and brought him into the family far enough to give Spanish lessons to Carlson’s children. Two months later Carlson learned that Acosta-Sanchez was wanted in Rockland County for having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

Carlson called the police.

Police stopped Acosta-Sanchez near Carlson’s house to question him. Acosta-Sanchez ran into the woods, eluding police dogs and helicopers. Two days after the massive manhunt, Acosta-Sanchez knocked on Carlson’s door. Carlson met him with a loaded shotgun and marched him down the driveway, hoping to alert a neighbor. On the way Carlson shot Acosta-Sanchez twice, killing him.

Carlson’s defense lawyers argued in the first go-round that Acosta-Sanchez had grabbed for the gun.

According to the Times Herald Record, the local police had enlisted Carlson’s help to catch Acosta-Sanchez in the first place. Carlson was indicted in 2013, but the indictment was dismissed in 2014, when the judge ruled that part of the grand jury presentation was flawed.

Despite acknowledging that Carlson’s last, fatal contact with the victim was because Acosta-Sanchez appeared at his door after police had been unable to catch him, officials still pursued the murder charges.

Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore said Carlson’s “alleged actions after disregarding direct instructions from police not to have contact with the victim and let them handle the situation regarding the victim, tragically resulted in this outcome.”

Carlson, now 43, remains free. A neighbor posted his $100,000 bond back in 2013, using her house as collateral, the Times Herald Record said.

“I’m just very thankful for the support of my friends and neighbors. I’m thankful that Judge Freehill is continuing my bail, and I’m just thankful to be going home today to my family,” Carlson said after court, according to recordonline.com.

Here’s the Westchester County District Attorney’s statement:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that David Carlson (DOB 04/ 28/71) of 99 Old Plank Road, Sparrowbush, New York was arraigned today on a three count indictment charging him with:

• one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A-1” Felony,

• one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony,

• one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,

relating to the death of Norris Acosta Sanchez.

This indictment is a representation of an earlier Grand Jury presentation by the Orange County District attorneys office that subsequently recused itself from prosecuting the case.

“Whatever this defendant’s intended motivations, his alleged actions after disregarding direct instructions from police not to have contact with the victim and let them handle the situation regarding the victim, tragically resulted in this outcome,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

In August of 2013, the defendant encountered the victim near his home and they became friendly. The defendant hired the victim to do odd jobs on his property and paid him with food. Over time, the defendant and his wife, Sarah, would take the victim shopping and he gave Spanish lessons to the defendant’s children.

On October 5, 2013, the defendant learned that the victim was wanted for having sex with a 14 year old girl. The defendant decided to contact the police and pass along this information.

On October 9th 2013, State Police questioned the victim at a car stop in the vicinity of the defendant’s home. The victim jumped out and ran into the woods eluding police.

Two days later, at 9:15 am, the victim knocked on the front door of the defendant’s house. The defendant grabbed a loaded pump-action shotgun and confronted the victim.

He marched the victim from the defendant’s driveway in the hopes of alerting a neighbor to the situation. He then attempted to alert a second neighbor.

At some point the defendant while interacting with the victim shot him in the arm. The defendant then shot the victim a second time, in the head.

Bail was continued at $100,000. The defendant’s next court date will be on April 20, 2015. The defendant faces a maximum of twenty five years to life in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Timothy Ward, Deputy Division Chief of the Superior Court Trial Division and Senior Assistant District Attorney Lana Hochheiser of the Career Criminal Bureau are prosecuting the case.

SCREENSHOT: News12.com