Inside The Westchester County Courthouse: Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown Update

Here’s a look at the Village cases that came before the Westchester County Court during the week on July 7, 2011. 

Boulas Case Heads Back to Tarrytown, Soon to Grand Jury

Mourad Boulas was arrested back in July of 2010 and charged with Grand Larceny in the 2^nd degree (a class C felony).  Boulas allegedly stole $400,000 from Tarrytown’s Castle on Hudson by writing checks to his wife and fictitious businesses. (Full story )

His case was SCIed (Superior Court Information) to County Court, and he originally waived indictment by the grand jury or a felony hearing.  An offer was made by the district attorney’s office, however Boulas and his attorney decided to reject it. 

Therefore, his case will be sent back to Tarrytown, so that it can be sent to the grand jury.  If indicted by the grand jury, his case will head to trial seeing as he has rejected the previous offer. 

Sanchez Gets a Year in Drug Sale Case

Julio Sanchez was on October 13 in Sleepy Hollow after an investigation by county police and charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3^rd Degree, and one count each of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 2^nd and 3^rd Degrees.

Sanchez was set to be sentenced two weeks ago after pleading guilty to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3^rd degree, but requested an adjournment.  He attempted to request another, but it was denied by County Judge John Colangelo, as he had already received an adjournment.

He was sentenced to a year incarceration in the county jail, $900 restitution with a $325 surcharge to cover the investigation done by police, and a six-month suspension of his driver’s license when he gets out. 

After hugging his wife, Sanchez went with court officers to begin serving his sentence.  Since he had already spent four months in jail before making bail, Sanchez will serve an additional eight months.

Adorno Pleads Guilty to Drug Sale, To Receive Probation

Jenel Adorno was arrested back on November 2^nd in Tarrytown when she was found to be selling benzylpiperazine or BZP, a hallucinogenic drug.  She was charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 5^th degree. 

She was arrested for the same charge in Yonkers, and had charges filed against her in Irvington and Greenburgh.  She was also arrested in Hastings and Ardsley, but police decided not to press charges in those cases.

Adorno pled guilty to two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 5^th degree.  Due to the fact that she was 17 at the time of her arrest, she received youthful offender treatment.  She was sentenced to 5 years probation, and $250 to cover police investigation costs. 

Adorno was warned that if she was re-arrested or did not comply with all of probation’s requests before sentencing, Judge Colangelo was not bound by the court’s promise for sentencing.  She was also reminded to keep up with the drug treatment programs that she’d been attending.

Zhinin Makes First Appearance on DWI Charges

Cornelio Zhinin was arrested April 22, 2011 and charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Aggravated DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the 2^nd degree, and a number of vehicle and traffic infractions. 

Zhinin already has one DWI conviction.  Though it occurred over ten years ago, his conviction for the crime came within the last ten years, meaning his new DWI charge is classified as a class E felony. 

Alongside this, he faces an Immigration Hold on his case, meaning that when it’s done, he will likely be picked up by Federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, however he is currently incarcerated on $5,000 bail.

After a felony hearing, Zhinin was indicted by the grand jury and his case was sent to county court.  His case is set to be heard by County Judge Barry Warhit, however Judge Warhit had a trial. 

Therefore, because of his constitutional right to a speedy arraignment, he was arraigned in front of Judge Barbara Zambelli.  Since she wasn’t going to continue overseeing the case, it was adjourned to July 18^th so Judge Warhit could continue with it.