General News: Judge Drops One Charge Against Principal
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| A crowd of supporters waited for principal Michael Rossi after the hearing. |
July 14, 2011
One charge has been dropped against the Washingtonville principal who faced misdemeanor charges of improper contact with a 16-year-old male student last fall.
Cornwall town justice Frank Navarra ruled on Wednesday that there was insufficient evidence to back the charge of forcible touching, one of three charges lodged against principal Michael Rossi. He still faces misdemeanor charges of sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a minor.
“Nothing resembling force is found in the record,” Judge Navarra wrote in his decision, which he read to a courtroom packed with some four dozen supporters of the principal. Rossi is alleged to have touched the student’s chest and arm and to have touched his private parts for two-to-three seconds while in a parked car last October.
While dismissing one charge, Judge Navarra denied Rossi’s motion for dismissal of all charges against him, saying that the defendant’s interests would be best served with a jury trial. He also noted that he reviewed the evidence presented in the case and “failed to find any factor compelling enough to merit dismissal.”
Rossi is scheduled for another hearing on August 16th. An order of protection is still is effect.
Comments:
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No evidence? How 'bout the guy admitted it...wow!
Denise Peters
posted by D P on 07/14/11 at 11:54 AM
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