Charges Dismissed Against Executive Director of the Hudson Valley Property Owners Association

Story by Diane Pineiro-Zucker, Daily Freeman, October 17, 2024

MARBLETOWN, N.Y. — Unlawful imprisonment and harassment charges against Richard Lanzarone, the executive director of the Hudson Valley Property Owners Association, were dismissed in Marbletown Town Court, according to a certificate of disposition and judge’s order provided by the defendant.

Lanzarone, 72, of Accord, has sued the city of Kingston on multiple occasions on behalf of the landlord advocacy group he leads. Most recently, the group argued that a push by two city lawmakers to lower the threshold of affordable housing would only stymie housing development in the city.

Lanzarone was arrested by state police at Wawarsing on Saturday, June 22, and was charged with unlawful imprisonment, a misdemeanor. The arrest was not connected in any way to Lanzarone’s organization.

In an email to the Freeman on Thursday, Lanzarone wrote that the charge was “fabricated, unwarranted, and as public figure, undeservedly devastating to my reputation.”

At his request, a trial was held, and “The case was thrown out since there was no evidence that any crime had been committed,” Lanzarone said.

In her decision, Marbletown Judge Claudia Davenport ruled that “Since trial evidence was insufficient as to both counts, Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second degree and Harassment in the Second degree the Defendant’s request for a trial order of dismissal is granted. The Order of Protection is hereby vacated.”