Former Southeast Town Supervisor Arrested for Trespassing
A former town supervisor for the Town of Southeast was arrested on Dec. 4 in connection with an incident at a local gymnasium last month. David Michael Rights, a 51-year-old Southeast resident, was arrested on a warrant charging him with third-degree criminal trespass, according to Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith.
Rights served as town supervisor from January 2008 through December 2011.
The incident reportedly occurred on Nov.15 at the World Gym, a fitness facility located at 1620 Route 22 in Southeast. At about 4:30 P.M. that day, a female employee of the gym called 911 and reported a dispute in progress between her and a customer, who was later identified as Mr. Rights, according to the sheriff’s department.
A sheriff’s deputy responded to the 911 call, but Rights had departed from the gym before the deputy arrived. The gym employee told the deputy that Rights had raised a dispute over gym fees and then allegedly went behind a counter and entered into an office area open only to employees. She further reported that he allegedly refused her demands to remove himself from that area.
The woman’s complaint was filed in Southeast Court, whereupon Town Justice Gregory Folchetti issued an arrest warrant charging Rights with the trespass offense. Deputy Sheriff Daniel Hunsberger executed the warrant on Dec. 4, taking Rights into custody at his home.
The former town supervisor was arraigned before Southeast Town Justice Richard Vercollone on the same day. The judge released him without bail and directed him to appear again in the court on Jan. 15, 2013 at 1:30 p.m.
Upon the request of the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office made in court, the judge ordered Mr. Rights to stay away from the World Gym facilities located in Southeast and in Pawling.
This is not Rights first run in with the law. Rights has been arrested twice on alcohol related charges. He pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired after a June 2007 accident in which his car flipped over on Milltown Road. Then in July 2008 he pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated after being stopped on Route 22.
The trespass charge against Rights is a class B misdemeanor. The offense is punishable by up to three months in jail and a fine of up to $500 upon conviction.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
