POUGHKEEPSIE – Frank Flowers, 53, known as “Santa” to many, turned down a plea deal in Dutchess County Court that would have sent him to prison for five years following an indictment on charges stemming from a domestic violence incident with the mother of his most recent child. Flowers was arrested in the Town of Poughkeepsie in December 2025 and was originally charged with misdemeanors that would have been handled in town court.
The Dutchess County District Attorney presented facts to the grand jury, which indicted him on felony strangulation and the misdemeanors of assault, criminal obstruction of breathing, and endangering the welfare of a child. Following the felony indictment, the case was moved to Dutchess County Court.
The prosecutor offered Flowers a plea deal in court that required him to plead guilty to the felony strangulation charge. The guilty plea would cover the misdemeanor charges. Had he taken the deal, the DA was going to recommend a five-year prison sentence, three years of post-release supervision, and orders of protection for the victim and the child. Flowers declined the offer.
Flowers is also on probation for charges related to a domestic violence incident in Connecticut involving the mother of another of his children. He was arraigned in Dutchess County Court and sent to the Dutchess County Jail. When he was released on bail, he was required to report to Poughkeepsie City Court to be arraigned on a fugitive warrant from Connecticut and remanded back to jail. He waived extradition and was transported to Connecticut to answer the charge of violating an order of protection with the Connecticut victim.
has represented Flowers for several years and is the attorney of record for the current case in New York. Following the court appearance, O’Connor told Mid-Hudson News, “My client (Frank Flowers) is not interested in the offer made by the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office,” while noting that evidentiary issues need to be addressed. Court sources indicate that the victim, escorted by Town of Poughkeepsie police officers, returned to the residence she shared with Flowers following the incident and apparently removed SD cards from the existing surveillance cameras, and, on a second return visit, she allegedly damaged the camera units. That issue will be addressed by the court.
“We are going forward with the motion calendar,” O’Connor told the reporter. “The court will address the issues,” the prominent defense attorney said.
In an unusual maneuver, the victim has retained of Poughkeepsie to represent her interests.
The attorneys are scheduled for another court appearance on February 24, 2026.
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