Child porn case inches along
Former Ulster County CO’s family issues are addressed
By Audra Jornov
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Published:
Friday, June 10, 2011 2:10 AM EDT
HUDSON — A former Ulster County corrections officer facing child porn charges was in court Tuesday for an Integrated Domestic Violence conference; this court hearing provides an opportunity to address the variety of family issues in court along with collaborating with other agencies such as the Columbia County Department of Social Services.
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According to federal law, on the National Center for State Courts website, any person with a restraining order is not allowed to possess a firearm or ammunition. Rugar has had his pistol license in the past.
“Based on the allegations of the criminal complaints, does Mr. Rugar still possess a suspended pistol license?” Columbia Count Court Judge Jonathan D. Nichols said at the start of the conference.
“My client said he thinks it’s been revoked,” said Rugar’s attorney, Sean Lally.
“You may want to check on that status, given the alleged misuse of a handgun,” said Nichols.
Lally did not understand what the judge was referring to, so Nichols explained that Ruger had misused a handgun in the presence of his child.
The child victim that was relatively close to Rugar has been in foster care, and Rugar has not been permitted to see the child, or the other child victim, under an order of protection granted, initially, by Columbia County Court Judge Paul Czajka.
The Department of Social Services was present at the court hearing and said the child is scheduled for permanency in foster care.
Regarding the placement of the child, “For the third time in a year, this child has been moved to a home that is outside of the home and not known by my client,” Lally told Judge Nichols, claiming that the child was not supposed to be moved according to Judge Czajka’s ruling.
Nichols reminded Lally of the order of protection and said he will provide a copy for his client, while he looks into the matter of ruling on the child victim’s movement.
DSS said that the child was moved “at the request of the foster parent.”
The 8-year-old child is a relative of Rugar and the other victim’s relation with Rugar was brought up in court on Tuesday.
Judge Nichols asked Lally if he was aware that the other child is a relative associated with Rugar.
“No,” Lally said.
“Review the association,” said Nichols.
In a sexual abuse case, the victims are protected and their names and specific relations are not made known in order to conceal their identity.
According to Nichols, both victims are related to Rugar. “Is there a reason why the other child is not named in family court?” Nichols asked Assistant District Attorney Tracy Lindauer.
“I cannot say why that child was not named,” said Lindauer.
“It will have to be modified again,” said Judge Nichols, with the other child also included in the family court proceedings.
Ruger will return 9:30 a.m July 18 for more court proceedings.
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