The President of Hi-Tor Animal Care Center in Pomona was indicted yesterday by a Rockland Grand Jury for filing false documents on 17 animals in the shelter’s care. Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh said 51 year-old Debbie Dibernardo faces more than a dozen counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing and Falsifying Business Records. Walsh said the incidents took place during the summer of 2020. Dibernardo was arraigned in Rockland County Court and released on her own recognizance. She is scheduled to return to court on January 18th. We reached out to DiBernardo but we did not hear back. In a statement, Rockland County Executive Ed Day said he expects to have an update on the shelter’s continued operations from their management by the end of the day today, and he’s directed the Department of Health to visit the shelter twice daily to make sure the animals there are healthy and safe. He said Rockland remains committed to putting up a new animal shelter facility. The county has dedicated more than $8 million in funding, on top of the various grants and donations the shelter has been given over the years. The Hi-Tor Animal Shelter has been in operation since 1973 and annually takes in 2,000 animals, primarily cats and dogs.
Haverstraw Supervisor Had COVID, Says Wife and He Are Now in the Clear
Haverstraw’s supervisor revealed yesterday he tested positive for COVID, but he’s doing fine now and back at work. Howard Phillips says he and his wife both came down with coronavirus last week, but neither of them had serious symptoms…
Phillips said he was in the clear and planned to attend last night’s town re-org meeting.
Area GOP Assemblyman Sees Pros/Cons of Governor’s State-of-the-State Speech
An area Republican lawmaker says he appreciated how Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, didn’t speak down to legislators in her state-of-the-state speech Wednesday as her predecessor had a tendency to do. Western Ramapo and Orange County Assemblyman Karl Brabenec told “The Morning Show” yesterday her speech was on the moderate side and had lots of positives, though he was disappointed she made no mention of fixing bail or criminal justice reforms…
Brabenec said he did like that Hochul said she wanted to have a positive working relationship with the legislature, he liked her proposal of tax rebates for small business and property owners, and her ethics reform plans.
Rockland Sheriff on New Manhattan D.A.’s Approach to Crime: “He Should Be Ashamed of Himself.”
Rockland’s sheriff is slamming Manhattan’s new District Attorney after published reports suggested he’s not interested in prosecuting various crimes, won’t be recommending jail time for others, and is working to have seniors released early on parole. Rockland Sheriff Lou Falco says new Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg “should be ashamed of himself”…
Bragg has been outspoken in his belief that those 55 and older who’ve already been behind bars for at least 15 years deserve expanded parole eligibility.
Hi-Tor President Charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing and Falsifying Business Records
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Walsh announced this afternoon that Debbie Dibernardo, President of Hi-Tor Animal Care Center Inc, has been indicted by a Rockland County Grand Jury for Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the 1st Degree and Falsifying Business Records in the 2nd Degree (17 Counts). Dibernardo was arraigned in Rockland County Court and released on her own recognizance. We’ll have more details Friday during “The Morning Show with Jeff & Will.”