Twin County man charged with drug, weapons charges | Hudsonvalley360.com

Nathaniel Picardi, 33, was arrested July 8 in Hillsdale and charged with three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a Class B felony, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D felony. the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office said.

Picardi also provided a Chatham address during the prosecution, prosecutors said.

According to the district attorney’s office, investigators with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office investigated the outstanding warrants Picardi was facing and made contact with him in Hillsdale. When he was located, Picardi was found to be in possession of fentanyl, cocaine and a loaded gun.

Picardi, who was represented by Castleton-based attorney Timothy Shevy, pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment Monday.

Shevy requested that the bail in Picardi’s case be set similarly to the bail he is already being held on in Greenport because of his previous bail jumping and failure to appear in court.

“My client is being held on $25,000 cash and $50,000 bond,” he said. “We would ask that a similar bail be set in this case.”

Picardi is being held in Greenport on bail in Greenport Municipal Court for allegedly failing to appear in court on a grand theft charge in August 2023 in Lowe’s County, prosecutors said.

“Any bond set in this matter will be insufficient to ensure that Mr. Picardi will return,” Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Rohlfing said during Monday’s proceedings. “Mr. Picardi has a long history of criminal activity in this county and New York State. A total of 29 arrests. He has a total of 15 open cases, four felonies and 11 misdemeanors. He has six counts of failure to appear and three revocations of his probation. Everything Mr. Picardi does regarding his contacts with the criminal justice system is designed to evade the courts and prosecution.”

Picardi also gave the court a home address in Catskill, Rohlfing said.

“My guess is that he listed that address in Catskill on all outstanding business,” he said. “However, his father told me and signed an affidavit to that effect that he had not lived there for years. I believe that everything Mr. Picardi is doing regarding his contacts is to deceive, so no bail will be enough. So people will be asking that he be remanded in custody in this matter and in all of these Columbia County matters.”

Picardi uses the Catskill residence as its mailing address, Shevy said.

“He actually didn’t live there,” he said. “So his father is making a correct statement when he says he didn’t live there but received his mail there.”

Picardi has no intention of leaving the area, Shevy said.

“Despite the extensive criminal case currently pending, Mr. Picardi has never left the area,” he said. “Despite everything that was hanging over him, and he was very aware of everything that was hanging over him because I was in touch with him pretty regularly via text message, he never left the area. He was arrested locally in Greenport, he has no intention of fleeing.”

Picardi ran, Rohlfing said.

“The defendant was arrested for an A2 drug crime in St. Lawrence County, which is on the Canadian border,” he said. “So after facing at least two felonies and several misdemeanors, he ran away.”

Columbia County Court Judge Michael Howard said in court Monday that he had to consider Picardi’s resources and ability to post bail but was also concerned about his behavior.

“I am concerned about recent behavior and conduct,” he said. “I’m worried about it. From a societal perspective, I’m worried, but I’m also worried about you, Mr. Picardi, because sometimes the addiction is so strong that it forces you to do things you wouldn’t normally do.”

Herman set Picardi’s bond at $35,000 cash, $70,000 secured bond and $100,000 partially secured bond.

“I acknowledge that your client, Mr. Shevy, probably has very limited resources,” he said. “But to protect the community and ensure he shows up, I don’t see the possibility of imposing additional bail.”

Picardi is scheduled to appear in court on November 4th.