Kingston, NY—Enri Gjinaj, age 34, of New Rochelle, NY, was convicted of two Counts of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree following a four-day jury trial before the Honorable Bryan Rounds, beginning February 14 and concluding on February 17, 2023. Defendant faces up to eight years in state prison. He is currently remanded to the Ulster County Jail pending sentence.
The conviction stems from an incident on June 8, 2022, during which the defendant violated a full stay away order of protection issued by the Larchmont Village Court for the safety of the victim and her 10-year-old daughter. The defendant then traveled from Westchester County to Kingston, where he assaulted the victim in her apartment in a room adjacent to the victim’s daughter’s locked bedroom. The victim’s terrified 10-year-old daughter then placed a call for emergency assistance from her closet. Kingston Police Department officers responded to the scene and quickly arrested the defendant in a stairwell adjacent to the victim’s apartment.
Following arrest, the defendant was remanded to Ulster County Jail where his abusive behavior continued. The defendant made six telephone calls to the victim from the jail, demanding she post bail and drop the charges in further violation of the full stay away order of protection. Over the course of the four-day trial, jurors from all over Ulster County listened intently to testimony of the victim, her 10-year-old daughter, members of the Kingston Police Department, and Ulster County 911 dispatchers.
This matter was tried by two of Ulster County’s Special Victim’s Bureau Assistant District Attorneys, Jenna Hastings and James Bryant. ADA Bryant said, “Domestic violence is an insidious type of abuse and domination of others, that often makes the victim feel as if they are alone without any means of help. The victim in this case bravely took a stand, working with law enforcement and our office to hold this defendant accountable.”
Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Culmone-Mills said, “This verdict is a result of a collaborative and swift response of Ulster County’s Intimate Partner Violence Intervention Task Force (IPVI), which ensured justice for the victim by engaging multiple stakeholders immediately following the arrest. Ultimately, the expedited nature of this case is one of core goals of the IPVI Program, and I am grateful to see this Program which includes so many of our partners across law enforcement and our community succeed.”
“I applaud the collaboration of our County level emergency service responders and Crime Victims Assistance Program Advocates, City of Kingston Police Officers, our talented and dedicated assistant district attorneys and investigative staff who worked hard to ensure justice would be served for this victim and her daughter,” said District Attorney David Clegg. “This conviction is only the start of the long healing process for this family.” Sentencing is scheduled for April 18, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. The defendant was represented by the Office of the Ulster County Public Defender.
If you or a loved one are experiencing domestic violence or intimate partner violence, please call Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance Program at (845) 340-3443, or 911 if you are in immediate danger.
