Just a handful of power outages are reported at this time, following heavy storms that came through the region late last night. Southern portions of the county were hit hard, though there were few reports of downed wires. One was in Clarkstown on New Hempstead Road. Newark Airport was reporting around 300 flight cancellations and dozens of delays this morning.
Breaking News
Calls for Rockland DA to Explain Evergreen Plea or Step Down Continue
The calls for Rockland’s District Attorney to step down or explain his actions haven’t stopped since last week’s plea deal with the two rabbis at the center of the fatal Spring Valley Adult Home Fire from two years ago. On Friday’s “Who Wants to Be a Volunteer,” Rockland’s Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Chris Kear, took a not-so-veiled swipe at the D-A, and others, who he said pretend to support emergency services personnell…
On Saturday’s “Tough Times with Lou Young,” Rockland’s former Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Gordon Wren, blamed the issues on lax code enforcement…
Spring Valley Firefighter George Cich, whose son was injured in the blaze, said the case against the rabbis and others involved should have gone to trial…
Rabbi Nathaniel Sommer pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter, he’s expected to be sentenced to five years probation. His son, Aaron, pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless endangerment, and he’ll get three years probation, and they’ll both pay $600 in court fees. They admitted to Judge Kevin Russo to using a blowtorch and coals to prepare the kitchen of the Evergreen Court Adult Home for Passover, causing the blaze that killed 35 year-old volunteer firefighter Jared Lloyd and resident Oliver Hueston. The judge indicated he would accept the plea deal and the D-A’s recommendation when they are sentenced September 20th. We’ve reached out to the D-A’s office several times and to the Sommers’ attorney as well for comment, but have not heard back.
Calls Grow for Rockland D-A to Step Down, Area Supervisor Wants to Hear Explanation from D-A Who Took Evergreen Plea
As the calls grow for Rockland’s D-A to resign in the wake of Tuesday’s plea with no jail time for the two Rabbis who admitted guilt in the fatal Spring Valley adult home fire, one town supervisor is urging residents to give D-A Tom Walsh the chance to explain his actions. Haverstraw’s Howard Phillips says it’s a sad situation for everyone involved…
Rockland’s Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Chris Kear, told “The Morning Show” Wednesday he’d have preferred to see the D-A take the case to trial…
Rabbi Nathaniel Sommer pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter, he’s expected to be sentenced to five years probation. His son, Aaron, pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless endangerment, and he’ll get three years probation, and they’ll both pay $600 in court fees. They admitted to Judge Kevin Russo to using a blowtorch and coals to prepare the kitchen of the Evergreen Court Adult Home for Passover, causing the blaze that killed firefighter Jared Lloyd and resident Oliver Hueston. The judge indicated he would accept the plea deal and the D-A’s recommendation when they are sentenced September 20th. We reached out to the Rockland County District Attorney’s office several times and to the Sommers’ attorney as well for comment, but did not hear back.
Extended Coverage: Fallout Continues From Evergreen Plea, Calls for Rockland D.A. to Resign Intensify
The families of the victims of the fatal Spring Valley Adult Home fire two years ago that killed a volunteer firefighter and a resident were not consulted when the District Attorney sought to offer the two defendants that had been accused of starting the blaze a plea deal with no jail time. That’s according to Rockland’s Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Chris Kear, who told “The Morning Show” yesterday he expects recruitment and retainment of new volunteers will be more difficult with the perception that the D-A does not have their back…
Rockland Sheriff Lou Falco says he and his department stand in solidarity with the firefighters…
Rabbi Nathaniel Sommer pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter, he is expected to be sentenced to five years probation. His son, Aaron, pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless endangerment, and he’ll get three years probation, and they’ll both pay $600 in court fees. They admitted to Judge Kevin Russo to using a blowtorch and coals to prepare the kitchen of the Evergreen Court Adult Home for Passover, causing the blaze that killed Lloyd and resident Oliver Hueston. The judge indicated he would accept the plea deal and the D-A’s recommendation when they are sentenced September 20th.
At least one Rockland fire company is calling for the District Attorney to immediately resign in the wake of the plea deal made Tuesday in Rockland County Court. In a letter addressed to District Attorney Tom Walsh, the Sloatsburg Fire Department said, quote, “It is crystal clear that you do not act in the best interest of The People. You have betrayed members of our department and of the Rockland County Fire Service.” President of the Rockland County Fire Chiefs Association, Kevin Huslinger, in a letter to Walsh said the case warranted full prosecution, and the plea sends a chilling message to all first responders.
Four other New York State fire organizations released a joint statement they crafted before the plea was made official. The Association of Fire Chiefs, the Firefighters Association, the Association of Fire Districts, and the Fire Coordinators’ Association warned Walsh that “the absence of punishment for conduct that leads to the death of first responders tacitly encourages future violations.” Walsh is running unopposed this November for re-election. He has the backing of both the Democratic and Republican parties. There is a petition on Change.org calling for the D-A to resign. Links are below:
Rockland Residents Only: chng.it/Kmwb2HK7
Nationwide: chng.it/y4zKgvsM
Most callers to “The Morning Show” Tuesday and Wednesday were disappointed with the D-A’s decision to settle the case…
One caller felt it isn’t productive to simply point fingers…
We reached out to the Rockland County District Attorney’s office several times and to the Sommers’ attorney as well for comment, but did not hear back.
Rabbis Plead Guilty in Evergreen Fatal Fire, to be Sentenced to Probation
Rockland fire officials were stunned after prosecutors recommended no jail time for the two Rabbis who pleaded guilty yesterday to charges stemming from the fatal fire at a Spring Valley adult home that killed a volunteer firefighter and a resident of the home more than two years ago. Rockland’s Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Chris Kear, says he was disappointed how it all turned out…
Hundreds of firefighters and others came out to show support for fallen firefighter Jared Lloyd as the court case unfolded yesterday in New City. In a statement, the Spring Valley Fire Department called the deal “a complete joke and a slap in the face to every volunteer firefighter” that fell far short of the D-A’s promise to obtain “Justice for Jared.” Rockland County Executive Ed Day, along with the victims’ families, felt there should have been some jail-time…
Rabbi Nathaniel Sommer pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter, he is expected to be sentenced to five years probation. His son, Aaron, pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless endangerment, and he’ll get three years probation. They admitted to Judge Kevin Russo to using a blowtorch and coals to prepare the kitchen of the Evergreen Court Adult Home for Passover, causing the blaze that killed Lloyd and resident Oliver Hueston. The judge indicated he would accept the plea deal and recommended sentencing.