CARMEL – In February, Putnam County Deputy Sheriff Kevin Osika was suspended from the sheriff’s department following his arrest by State Police on misdemeanor charges of assault and aggravated harassment resulting from an alleged domestic incident.
The case is over, but the disposition has been sealed.
Police said patrols arriving at the Mahopac residence determined that Osika, 43, had been involved in a physical altercation. He was charged with assault and harassment, though the harassment charge was dismissed in May.
Osika is married to Putnam Legislator Erin Lee Crowley, who serves as deputy district director for Congressman Mike Lawler.
Now the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, said the legal action has concluded but because the proceedings are sealed under state law, prosecutors said they cannot comment on any aspect of the investigation.
Osika, a 10-year member of the force, was suspended without pay while the department conducted an internal investigation.
District Attorney Robert Tendy stepped back from the case and requested that Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi handle the case.
“I recused my office because virtually all of the assistant district attorneys know Erin Crowley; and as legislator she is part of the process that sets the budget for our office,” Tendy said. “Regarding Deputy Osika, many of the assistant district attorneys have worked with him on various cases, and I know him as well. The recusal is not because anyone is a prominent member of the sheriff’s department or because anyone is a legislator. That would not necessarily be a valid reason for recusal. However, because of what I stated above, for my office to handle this case, there would be an appearance of impropriety (even though nothing improper would be done. Whenever there is the possibility of an appearance of impropriety, we recuse ourselves,” he said.
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