Croton burglar pleads guilty to multiple charges. As part of a plea deal, he will enter Westchester County's Mental Health Court. [Story updated]
Carlos Liriano of the Bronx, who spent 11 months in Westchester County jail, was released last month. He must comply with strict conditions to avoid returning to jail.
The case of a Bronx man who was arrested by Croton police last December on burglary and petit larceny charges in the village appears to be drawing to a close.
Carlos Liriano, 37, appeared before Westchester County Court Justice Anne Minihan on Tuesday, December 10, for his long-awaited arraignment, and pled guilty to a total of four charges: Two each of burglary in the second degree, and two each of petit larceny.
The charges stem from two house entries in Croton late last year, on Wells Avenue and Piney Point Avenue. Liriano was not caught during the first incident in October 2023, but Croton police did nab him the day after a second home entry in December 2023. The details of the incidents provided to us by the Westchester County District Attorney’s office were as follows:
“Case 1: It is alleged that on Oct. 12, 2023, at approx. 12:15 p.m., the defendant unlawfully entered a house on Wells Avenue and stole a black suitcase and an 84 piece tool set from the home. It is further alleged the defendant caused damage to a door while gaining entry to the home. He is charged with Burglary in the Second Degree, Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree and Petit Larceny.
Case 2: It is alleged that on Dec. 5, 2023, at approx. 10:35 p.m., the defendant unlawfully entered a home on Piney Pointe Ave. in Croton-on-Hudson. He is charged with Burglary in the Second Degree.”
(The charges were later changed to one each of burglary and petit larceny for each of the two incidents.)
Liriano spent about 11 months in jail before being released on his own recognizance, without public explanation, on November 13. He is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County.
Following Liriano’s arraignment, Judge Minihan set a court date of December 17 for continuance of his case. Although neither Liriano’s attorneys nor the DA’s office will comment for now on any plea deal that Liriano may have agreed to, we believe that he may be sentenced during his court appearance next week. He is likely to receive credit for time already served, although whether the court will set any further penalties remains to be seen.
The Chronicle will provide updates as available.
Update December 12: After we went to press on this story, the Westchester County District Attorney’s office agreed to provide us with the details of Liriano’s plea deal. According to Jin Whang, Director of Public Affairs & Communications for the DA’s office, Liriano will now enter Westchester’s Mental Health Court, “one of the problem-solving diversionary courts in [the] county.”
(A similar arrangement, involving Drug Court, was earlier given to a Peekskill man accused of stealing from Croton’s ShopRite.)
If Liriano completes the prescribed course of treatment successfully, he will be sentenced to three years probation on one felony count. If he is not successful, he will be sentenced to one year in jail for each of two felonies, to be served consecutively.
The December 17 court date will be to monitor compliance with these conditions, and Liriano will not be sentenced at that time.
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