Cobleskill village attorney arrested for stolen property

5/15/2012

By David Avitabile

Cobleskill village attorney arrested for stolen property

Cobleskill's village attorney was arrested Friday by the New York State Police on charges of possession of stolen property after allegedly buying a stolen flat-screen television.
Lee C. Hartjen, 57, of Grandview Drive in Cobleskill was charged by the State Police with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a misdemeanor, following a one-month investigation.
The investigation showed that John C. Giakoumakis, 51, of Barnerville Road in Cobleskill, stole a 60-inch, LG flat-screen TV from a home in Davenport and sold it to Mr. Hartjen, said Investigator Thomas Cioffi.
Mr. Hartjen, who has been Cobleskill village attorney for several years, has represented Mr. Giakoumakis in legal matters in the past, Investigator Cioffi said.
Police believe that the attorney knew the TV was stolen, the Investigator said.
"When you buy a television worth more than several hundred dollars for $300 and the serial number on the back ripped off, it should lead you to believe something's up," Investigator Cioffi said.
The TV which retails for about $1,000 was sold for $300, police said.
The TV was recovered from the Hartjen home on April 7, police said.
The attorney was charged in Cobleskill town court, police said. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance to return to court on June 3.
Cobleskill Mayor Mark Galasso Monday said that he had no comment on the arrest and would not have one until the legal action has been completed.
"I don't have enough information to comment on it," Mayor Galasso said.
He said he was informed of the arrest the morning after it happened.
The village board was scheduled to meet last night, Tuesday, but no action will be taken yet, he said.
"We'll let the legal side of it run its course, then we can take action, if we have to," Mayor Galasso said.
"We won't have a knee-jerk reaction."
Mr. Hartjen did not return phone calls.
Investigator Cioffi said the New York State Unified Court System Third Department Committee on Professional Standards has been notified of the arrest.
The State Police said Mr. Giakoumakis was charged with petty larceny by the Delaware County Sheriff's office for the alleged theft.
The investigation was conducted in cooperation with the Delaware County Sheriff's office.