MOHEGAN LAKE – A 64-year-old resident of Lake Mohegan who formerly lived in Mahopac is facing felony hate crime charges following a State Police investigation into a reported threat and alleged harassment stemming from a 911 call made earlier this month.
Troopers announced the arrest Tuesday of John Pinchbeck in connection with the incident.
Troop K Public Information Officer Trooper Krystal Paolicelli said troopers from the Cortlandt barracks received a call from an unidentified man who claimed to have observed a threatening social media post and identified a Mohegan Lake address and resident as being responsible. “The caller disconnected before providing complete identifying information. A follow up investigation, including interviews and a review of cellular devices and social media accounts, found no evidence supporting the allegations,” she said.
Investigators determined the report was knowingly false and made to harass a family at the identified address. “The suspect was found to have a documented history of harassment involving the same family and was subject to an active full stay-away order of protection,” said Paolicelli.
Pinchbeck was charged with aggravated harassment as a hate crime, falsely reporting an incident as a hate crime and criminal contempt.
Paolicelli said during the investigation, troopers and investigators conducted a search of Pinchbeck’s residence and secured electronic devices, prior to taking him into custody.
He was arraigned in Cortlandt Town Court and remanded to the Westchester County Jail.
The police spokeswoman said investigators found no evidence of a credible threat.
Twelve years ago, while living in Mahopac, Pinchbeck was charged with one felony count of criminal possession of a controlled substance as well as driving while his ability was impaired by drugs after his car was stopped in Jefferson Valley when Yorktown Police said an officer determined that Pinchbeck was driving while his ability was impaired by narcotics. During the investigation, police reportedly found a large quantity of controlled substances in his possession, leading to the felony charge.
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