February 9, 1994, The Times Herald-Record

2 protesters' charges dismissed

MONTICELLO -- Two of the five people arrested last August for carrying protest signs into a Monticello Village Board meeting have had the charges aginast them dismissed.
Thomas and Carmen Rue, both of Monticello, appeared before Thompson Court Judge Burt Ledina Monday.
Ledina dismissed the disorderly conduct charges stemming from an Aug. 2 meeting when they ignored a ban on signs and attended a Village Board meeting.
Thomas Rue said he feels vindicated on one level but on another feels like the village has yet to realize that what it did was wrong.
The dismissals came after Sullivan County District Attorney Stephen F. Lungen wrote to judges Ledina and Perry Meltzer asking that the charges be dropped. Lungen maintained that the five were protesting a change in the village power structure which has since been deemed illegal. In the switch, the board appointed a full-time attorney behind closed doors. The village justice, Mark Schulman, was named village attorney; Mayor John Diuguid was appointed by Village Manager James J. Malloy as village judge and Trustee Robet Friedland was named mayor.
Charges are still pending against Mary Marino of Monticello; Glenn Pontier of Monticello [sic], and Charles Stephenson of North Branch.
No court date has been set. Marino's lawyer, Loran Shlevin, has sought a dismissal of the charges.



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