Cortlandt Town Justice Kimberly Ragazzo Under Fire for Ignoring DA’s Request for Bail So Student Can Go Take Exams –Troopers Union Furious
By Dan Murphy
At 251 am on March 20, State Police pulled over Bryan Illescas, 22, for multiple traffic violations in the Town of Cortlandt Manor. After he was placed under arrest, Illescas was thought to be under the influence of alcohol. According to witness reports, Illescas punched a wall at the trooper barracks and when he mother came to pick him up, he punched a trooper in the head with one hand while the other was handcuffed to a bench.
Illescas was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and second-degree assault, a felony. He appeareed in Town of Cortland court before Town Justice Kimberly Ragazzo. DA Mimi Rocah’s office recommended that bail be set for Illescas at $15,000 cash bail or a $30,000 bond.
Instead, Judge Ragazzo released Illescas without bail because, according to the State Troopers PBA, “because she did not want him to miss a college midterm exam in criminal justice the next day.”
The trooper was taken to the hospital and released. Here is the complete statement from the State Troopers PBA. “Shame on you, Justice Ragazzo! The New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association, is shocked by the nonchalance of Cortlandt Town Justice Kimberly Ragazzo in releasing a defendant – accused of assaulting a Trooper – on his recognizance simply because the young man claimed he had a college exam the next day.
“I am disgusted by the flippant attitude of Town of Cortlandt Justice Kimberly Ragazzo,” said NYSTPBA President Thomas H. Mungeer. “Despite the defendant’s displays of violence, including assaulting a Trooper, Justice Ragazzo chose to release him without even verifying his story.”
The 22-year-old man, Bryan P. Illescas, was arrested Sunday and charged with driving while intoxicated. While in custody at the State Police barracks in Cortlandt, Illescas became combative and damaged a wall.
When the man’s mother came to pick him up, he suddenly punched a Trooper in the head and caused a significant laceration to the Trooper.Additional charges of assaulting a police officer were brought upon Illescas, and he was then brought before Justice Ragazzo for arraignment.
The district attorney recommended that Illescas be required to pay $15,000 cash bail or a $30,000 bond in order to be released, but Justice Ragazzo ignored that and instead released him on his recognizance because she did not want him to miss a college midterm exam in criminal justice the next day.
“You cannot make this stuff up! My Troopers risk their lives every day making the roadways and neighborhoods of this state safe. The last thing they need to encounter is a soft-on-crime judge who has more sympathy for a failed criminal justice major than she does for the citizens of her jurisdiction,” Mungeer said.
Now that word is spreading about the incident, Judge Ragazzo is starting to feel the outrage for her actions, from the law enforcement community, but also from the people of Northern Westchester, who don’t want their officers attacked and then allowed to walk without bail.
A word to the wise in the judicial community in Westchester. Make your best attempts to heed the recommendations of DA Mimi Rocah and her Assitant District Attorneys who operate in local Town and City Courts in Westchester County. In our view, their recommendations should be welcomed and relied on.
For this individual to be rewarded by being released and allowed to take his exam is not justice. And Mr. Illescas does not seem like a consicentious student. Afer all he is accused of driving drunk at 3 in the morning. And would anyone in their right mind punch a State Trooper once your mother comes to pick you up and she has to watch it all?
No this is not ripped from the headlines of Law & Order, its real. Law enforcement unions and supporters are already lining up an opponent to Justice Ragazzo.
