KERHONKSON >> Two local residents have been linked to a “crime wave” involving the coercion of mentally disabled teens, multiple burglaries and other crimes, state police said Wednesday.
Shaun P. Van Dyke, 24, and Kelly A. Cioto, 34, both of Kerhonkson, were arrested Tuesday after an investigation of crimes committed in the towns of Rochester and Wawarsing, police said.
Police said the arrests are tied to multiple burglaries and larcenies on Markel Road in Kerhonkson over the past several weeks. During the investigation, police said, they found Van Dyke had directed two mentally disabled teens, ages 13 and 15, to commit the larcenies. He then sold some of the stolen property and directed the juveniles to destroy and discard other proceeds of the larcenies, police allege.
The teens also were instructed by Van Dyke to steal license plates from a neighborhood car, which he then put on his unregistered vehicle and drove locally, police said.
Police said the teens have not been charged with any crimes.
Van Dyke was charged with the felonies of burglary (two counts), endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person (two counts), conspiracy (two counts), possession of a weapon, possession of stolen property, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief, as well as the misdemeanor of petit larceny, police said; and Cioto was charged with the felonies of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person (two counts) and possession of a weapon.
Police said some of the stolen property was recovered from Van Dyke and Cioto’s residence and from local pawn shops, where Van Dyke sold some of the proceeds.
Police also said Van Dyke fired a shot from a rifle into the front window of a trailer occupied by a woman with whom he had a dispute. No one was injured in that incident, they said.
Van Dyke and Cioto were arraigned in Rochester Town Court. Van Dyke was sent to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail, and Cioto was jailed in lieu of $1,000 bail.
