Hossu Charges Announced
Alexandru Hossu faces four counts of rape and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, as prosecutors say the Brewster resident violently raped his girlfriend’s young daughter almost three years ago.
The charges were formally announced by Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore last Tuesday, two weeks after a grand jury voted to indict Hossu.
On October 24, 2010, the prosecution states, Hossu entered the bedroom of his girlfriend’s young daughter, who was then 12 years old, at around 7:30 p.m. He allegedly overpowered the girl, applied force to her neck and forcibly raped her twice, prosecutors say.
Hossu, 35, is a family friend and former live-in trainer of District Attorney Adam Levy.
Hossu’s attorney, Robert Altchiler, has said his client is innocent and he plans to file a motion to dismiss the charges.
“This case is either going to end in an outright acquittal or a dismissal before trial,” Altchiler said after the grand jury indictment. “My client is 100 percent innocent, and we are going to prevail.”
Hossu was arrested on May 20 by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, which listed Levy’s home as Hossu’s address although Hossu was no longer living there. This sparked a heated exchange between Smith and Levy, whose relationship was strained to begin with. Levy has recused himself from the case.
The alleged incident came to light earlier this year, the prosecution states, after the victim told a school counselor and later a sheriff’s deputy.
Hossu, who is being held in Putnam County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, is due in Putnam County Court on Sept. 23, prosecutors announced. He faces up to 25 years in state prison.
