Cobleskill village trustee candidate Bob LaPietra was arrested Monday, charged with perjury and offering a false instrument in connection with his nominating petitions.
Mr. LaPietra surrendered to Cobleskill police and county Sheriff’s deputies after they notified his attorney of the charges.
But while surrendering, Mr. LaPietra, 64, denied his guilt.
“On my sons’ lives, I wouldn’t do such a thing,” Mr. LaPietra said. “I’m a person of more moral integrity than this.”
He’s charged with 13 counts of second-degree perjury and 13 counts of first-degree offering a false instrument. Both charges are Class E felonies.
Mr. LaPietra pleaded not guilty on all counts.
The charges stem from Mr. LaPietra’s nominating petitions, which list his address as 784 East Main Street. Village officials have maintained that he doesn’t live there and therefore shouldn’t be on the village ballot.
The offering a false instrument charge reads that Mr. LaPietra had “falsely listed his address. . .with the intent to defraud the Village of Cobleskill.”
The perjury charge reads that he falsely listed his address to make signers believe “he was eligible for the election.”
The perjury allegations occurred in Cobleskill, where the petitions were signed, and the false instrument charges were in Schoharie, where the petitions were filed with the Board of Elections.
Sheriff John Bates said the investigation started in Cobleskill, when complaints about the petitions came to police.
People getting signatures on the petitions were “indicating to people that ‘We don’t care if you’re a resident or not, go ahead and sign,’ ” Sheriff Bates said.
According to written statements, depositions from four people support the charges.
But in speaking to the Times-Journal, George Yancy, one of those four, indicated he was pressured into making a deposition.
Mr. Yancy came to the station voluntarily, he said, read his rights, and the police “pretty much scared me to death. They wouldn’t tell me what I was being arrested for till I got down there. . .illegal solicitation.”
Cobleskill Sergeant Rich Bialkowski said Mr. Yancy wasn’t arrested.
“I don’t believe he was pressured,” Sergeant Bialkowski said. “He was given an opportunity to make a statement just like anyone else.”
Sheriff Bates said further charges are pending and may be lodged against the people seeking signatures on the petitions. He said the investigation included numerous interviews over three weeks.
Mr. LaPietra’s home address came into question at his arraignment in Cobleskill Village Court Monday afternoon.
When Justice Richard Hamm asked for an address, Ed Wildove, Mr. LaPietra’s lawyer, at first deferred, saying the issue was open to question.
But Mr. LaPietra eventually gave his address as 784 East Main.
Justice Hamm said the county District Attorney’s office had recommended no bail, but he set bail at $5,000 cash bail, $10,000 bond on the perjury charges.
He did so because of “past experience with this court,” Justice Hamm said. “Mr. LaPietra appears when he wants.”
“He’s appeared in court every time he’s had to,” Mr. Wildove protested.
Later, Mr. LaPietra agreed.
“I have never not appeared in court,” he said. “He said I was not trustworthy. I am.”
Police led Mr. LaPietra away in handcuffs. His wife, K.C., later posted the $5,000 bail.