Trespassing Charges Against Nazareth Officers Withdrawn
Trespassing charges against Nazareth officers Benjamin Rizzotto and Scott Ledo were withdrawn Tuesday morning.
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Mere hours before two Nazareth police officers were scheduled to answer to trespassing charges, the summary offenses were withdrawn.
Benjamin D. Rizzotto, 35, and Scott James Ledo, 42, had been scheduled for a hearing Tuesday in front of District Judge Todd Strohe of Bangor.
Shortly before 7 p.m. July 6, according to court records, Stockertown police were called to the Stockertown Rod and Gun Club, 206 Lefevre Road. The two Nazareth officers were found to be on the gun range after posted hours.
According to www.stockertownrgc.com, the range is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Friday, the day of the incident.
Rizzotto was charged with criminal trespass - simple trespasser. And because Ledo is not a member of the gun club, he was charged with defiant trespass - posted.
The gun club's website explains -- in bold, capital letters -- that due to liability insurance, all people on any of the ranges must be members, even if they are not shooting.
Observers and guests also are not permitted on the ranges.
A call to Philip D. Lauer, attorney for Rizzotto and Ledo, was not immediately returned.
Ben Miller
5:28 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Good! It's not like these two officers were out causing trouble or doing something dishonorable. They were on the gun range, honing their target skills. They're police officers and it's related to their job.
Personally, I felt it was inappropriate for them to be charged in the first place and it seemed to be one group trying to stick it to another, with two police officers in the middle.
Paul Klotz
7:48 am on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Maybe the gun club should consider making all police officers life time members. These men put there lives in jeopardy every day watching over our community. Agree rules are rules but we have a lot larger issues then this. Just another example of tax payers dollars being wasted and more importantly peoples time being wasted.
Ben Miller
9:29 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
I couldn't agree more, Mr. Klotz.
Gibbs
8:46 am on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
ROFL good lawyer much??? If these were everyday citizens they would have been fried to the extent of the law but NOPE they are above the law and the two imbiciles above are the reason they think they are. They are people they know the rules they are to follow them like everyone else if nothing else more then everyone else to be examples you igits saying that them breaking the rules was okay and they should be rewarded just shows the stupidity of yourself and anyone else who thinks police officers are above the law. Nazareth Police officers have been in more trouble in the last few years then most of the citizens for crying out loud or are you too blind and stupid to realize this? Whatever when your little town gets run over by all the druggies and lawbreakers that are slowly moving in and your perfect little cops are too busy breaking their own laws to care don't come on The Patch whining.
DDR
4:01 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Hmmm...did you read the Morning Call that states the officers had PERMISSION TO BE THERE AFTER HOURS BY THE STOCKERTOWN PD?
Ben Miller
9:35 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
So..... You are trying to persuade people by insulting them? Perhaps the general public would take you a little more seriously if you learned how to write. Your ranting in what I can only describe as a series of the world's longest run-on sentences, is as incoherent as it is grammatically incorrect. If that was your intention, then well done.
Gibbs
12:28 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Please please do not insult yourself that way.