PRESS RELEASE
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DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES 3 INDICTMENTS IN
GREAT KILLS BIAS CASE

***First Hate Crime indictments on Staten Island since law passed in October, 2000***

February 12, 2004 – Richmond County District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. announced today the indictments of three Staten Islanders in the Labor Day 2003 assault on New Jersey resident Rachel Carter in Great Kills.

Defendants Christian Rudge, 20, of 30 Bartow Street, Christopher Zitelli, 19, of 7 Highland Lane, and Anthony Improta, 18, of 64 Goodall Street, were named in a twenty-count indictment handed up by a Grand Jury this week. Each defendant is charged with two counts of Assault in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, three counts of Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime, three counts of Assault in the Third Degree, four counts of Attempted Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime, four counts of Attempted Assault in the Third Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree.

District Attorney Donovan said, “These indictments send the message that crimes involving bias and prejudice on Staten Island will be thoroughly investigated and vigorously prosecuted by this administration, and that any defendant who engages in this kind of criminal behavior will face the appropriate consequences.”

Rudge, Zitelli and Improta will be arraigned on the indictment on Wednesday, February 18, in State Supreme Court. If convicted on the top count, each defendant faces a maximum of 3.5 – 15 years.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rick Pasacreta. Christian Rudge is represented by Mario Galluci, Esq. Christopher Zitelli is represented by the law firm of Gregory and Lazzaro. Anthony Improta is represented by Joseph Sorrentino.

The public is reminded than an indictment is merely an accusation, and that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.