FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE: FEBRUARY 26, 2016
SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE – ERIC NAPOLI CONVICTION
On February 25, 2016, an Ulster County jury of four men and eight women found Eric Napoli, age 44, guilty of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a felony. The case stemmed from Napoli’s arrest by members of the Town of Shawangunk Police Department on April 19, 2015.
The evidence at trial established that on April 16, 2015 the defendant tied his housemate’s 6 year old huskie, Luna, to a tree in his back yard and shot her to death using a shotgun loaded with leaded birdshot.
Luna’s owner, a Pine Bush school teacher, was called as the prosecutor’s first witness. She explained that she had adopted Luna as a rescue dog after Luna was left, abandoned, tied to a tree and that she and her family loved Luna as much as if Luna were her own daughter. She testified that on April 16th, just as her students were getting on the bus, she received calls and texts from the defendant threatening that if she did not take Luna to the pound he was going to f…..ing kill her. She immediately sped home to get Luna and move to a safe place. When she arrived home Luna was tied to a tree but seemed unharmed, physically. She went into the house to pack a couple of personal items to leave when she heard two gunshots and heard Luna yelp.
At trial the defendant took the stand in his own defense and testified to the jury that he came home and found Luna standing over his deceased cat. He testified he believed Luna killed his cat, although he did not witness his cat die, and, on cross examination, admitted that he had a pitbull which also resided in the home at the time, and that Luna had never acted aggressively toward the cat. Defendant further testified that after giving his roommate the option of taking Luna to the pound or shooting her, the roommate acquiesced to him shooting Luna to death, which Luna’s owner adamantly denied.
Defendant has a lengthy criminal history of Alcohol related offenses which under, New York State Law, the jury was not entitled to hear about. In addition, the defendant has a pending charge of Felony Driving While Intoxicated in Orange County.
Sentencing is scheduled on April 22, 2016 in front of Judge Donald Williams. He faces a sentence of up to two years in jail.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Paul Derohannesian and Emmanuel Nneji. The defendant was represented by attorney Thomas Petro.