Two men suspected in last week’s vandalism spree throughout the city made their first appearance in Schenectady City Court on Wednesday morning and were each ordered held in jail.
Garrett Disarno, 22, of Berne, and Clarence “C.J.” Hagadorn, 23, of Mechanicville, each face 26 separate counts related to the Schenectady spree. They formally pleaded not guilty and City Court Judge Mark Blanchfield ordered them each held in lieu of a total of $44,000 bail.
The men were arrested last week in Halfmoon and charged with multiple acts of vandalism there and have been held on those charges since.
In Schenectady, they each now face 18 separate felonies and eight misdemeanors, all counts of criminal mischief of varying magnitude, according to court proceedings. Seven of the charges are related to damage inflicted along Van Vranken Avenue; six on Eastern Avenue; three on Delamont Avenue; three on McClellan Street; and one each on Brandywine Avenue, State Street, Raymond Street and Stanley Street, records show.
Whether the incident is a felony or misdemeanor is based on the dollar estimate of the damage caused. The top count, second-degree criminal mischief, requires at least $1,500 in damage. Third-degree criminal mischief, also a felony, requires at least $250 in damage.
Most of the incidents involved the pair allegedly shooting out car windows with a BB or pellet gun, though some business windows were also shot out. The damage in those incidents straddled the felony-misdemeanor line.
Damage at the Hess gas station and convenience store on Brandywine Avenue was estimated at $3,100 from one large window shot out, according to papers filed in court.
At The Clock Works on State Street, owner Paul Major said his damage totalled $5,400 — $2,300 for each of his two large front windows hit and another $800 for his front door.
“I think they ought to be responsible for replacement costs,” Major said Wednesday at his shop. “They also should be punished in some way.”
Major said window damage is not unusual in his area. He estimated a window is shot out at his store once a year. This time, he said he’s having replacement windows put in that divide the large window into smaller panes, to lower any future replacement costs.
Further charges against Disarno and Hagadorn are possible. A grand jury is expected to hear the case soon.
Police have said more than 100 acts of vandalism were committed that morning.
Representing Hagadorn in court Wednesday morning was Julia Diskint of the public defender’s office. Representing Disarno was Daniel Smalls of the conflict defender’s office. Each attorney asked for no or low bail, noting the men are from the region and have family in the area.
Prosecutor Nicolaus Brooks-McDonald asked for total bail of $75,000. Blanchfield set bail for each at a total of $44,000 cash or $88,000 bond. That represents $2,000 for each charged felony and $1,000 for each charged misdemeanor.
Disarno faces four counts of second-degree and 14 counts of third-degree criminal mischief. Hagadorn faces three and 15, respectively. They both face eight misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief.
The two are accused of going on a 24-hour rampage through Schenectady and Halfmoon, shooting out car windows and damaging vehicles. According to statements they allegedly gave police last week, the two were in Schenectady so Hagadorn could purchase heroin.
Disarno allegedly told police Hagadorn began shooting early April 22 after the first heroin dealer had no drugs to sell. The shooting continued as Disarno drove through the city, even after Hagadorn purchased heroin elsewhere.
After a lull through the day, the two went to two trailer parks in Halfmoon and resumed their path of destruction, authorities said. They were arrested shortly after witnesses spotted them and called police.
Categories: -News-, Schenectady County
