Political operative and former professor arrested on sex charges
June 25th 2012 · 13 Comments
Richard J. Emmert, 69, has been charged in a sting by the UPD Special Operations Unit in Roscoe Conkling Park. Emmert, a longtime Democratic party operative and retired Utica College professor, was charged with Exposure of a person, a violation, and Public Lewdness, a misdemeanor.
The sting came after the UPD received numerous complaints regarding men engaging in sexual acts in Roscoe Conkling Park attached to Valley View Golf Course. It was reported that the men would meet each other for the purposes of engaging in sexual acts on themselves and each other. They would also accost people passing by, often times propositioning them while exposing themselves. Officers were directed to an area in the park believed used by the men.
When officers checked this area they located several discarded items used during the acts as well as blankets, clothing and undergarments. Over the past several weeks the Special Operations Unit conducted an investigation utilizing an undercover officer. The officer walked the area of the park and was approached numerous times by men, who would then expose themselves and masturbate. On several occasions the suspect grabbed the officer in a sexual manner while propositioning him. These crimes occurred on the roadway, trails, and woods in the park, which are well traveled by vehicles, walkers, and runners.
Political Ties
Emmert is well known as a longtime Democratic party committeeman and top strategist on some of the highest ranking Democratic campaigns, including former Congressman Mike Arcuri, former Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito, current District Attorney Scott McNamara, Sheriff Rob Maciol and many others.
According to the New York State Board of Elections, Emmert has made at least seven separate donations to McNamara, totaling $560, since 2007. He made eight donations to Sheriff Maciol, totaling $650. Other recipients of political donations from Emmert include Supreme Court Judges Gigliotti and Romano, former Utica mayor David Roefaro, and former Assemblywoman Destito. All are Democrats.
Emmert’s Democratic machine ties go back decades, to his support of the East Utica Organization run by the late Rufus Elefante.
This was never more apparent than in an op-ed for the Utica Observer-Dispatch, titled “Machine Politics Defended”, written in response to a critical editorial about political bosses and machine politics, particularly that of Rufus Elefante. In the op-ed, Emmert defends the practice of political bossism writing, “Doing favors (and expecting them to be repaid) is, of course, one of the more apparent activities of political bosses…The primary task of a political boss has always been to piece together the disparate groups which exist in any community until he has the majority that enables his machine to win public office.”
District Attorney Scott McNamara has stated that he intends to recuse himself and his office from the case in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety. McNamara says either another prosecutor from outside Oneida County or a private attorney will be assigned the case.
The following arrests were made:
Arrested: Brian G. Slocum (54) State RT 12B Deansboro, NY
-Exposure of a person, a violation
-Public Lewdness, a misdemeanor
Marc N. Stagliano (58) Oldfield Drive Herkimer, NY
-Exposure of a person, a violation
-Public Lewdness, a misdemeanor
William H. Williams (53) Whitesboro St Yorkville, NY
-Exposure of a person, a violation
-Public Lewdness, a misdemeanor
George C. Brockett (79) Steuben Hill Rd Herkimer, NY
-Exposure of a person, a violation
-Public Lewdness, a misdemeanor
Joseph S. Aiello (66) Lansing St Utica, NY
-Exposure of a person, a violation
-Public Lewdness, a misdemeanor
Robert E. Havranek (77) Waterford St New Hartford, NY
-Exposure of a person, a violation
-Public Lewdness, a misdemeanor
Richard J. Emmert (69) Bolton Rd. New Hartford, NY
-Exposure of a person, a violation
-Public Lewdness, a misdemeanor
Timothy M. Wissenbach (55) Noyes St. Utica, NY
-Exposure of a person, a violation
-Public Lewdness, a misdemeanor
Patrick H. Murray (47) Old Oneida Rd. Rome, NY
-Exposure of a person, a violation
-Public Lewdness, a misdemeanor
Francis J. Grippe (54) Main St. Frankfort, NY
-Harassment 2nd, a violation
-Forcible Touching, a misdemeanor
Michael F. Leary (67) Jones Rd. Sauquoit, NY
-Harassment 2nd, a violation
-Forcible Touching, a misdemeanor
Craig A. Hood (60) Sunset Ave Utica, NY
-Exposure of a person, a violation
Readers Comments (13)
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All charges will be dropped, victimless crimes. Feel bad for the families though.
Agreed…
Victimless. Apparently you don’t have kids who have to witness these acts in the park and can no longer play there. Victimless? How about forcible sexual contact upon a police officer?
I didn’t read where kids were “forced” to witness anything. Where did you hear that?
Yeah, mental problems such as NO SELF CONTROL and “everybody has to watch me be a pervert!”
Filth like this would never be happening if New York simply allowed gay marriage.
Oh we already do…
[Silence]…I didn’t think so.
great article! alot more in-depth than any other publication would have done.
Did not some of their walkers get in the way?
Geez… looks like some people never grow up.
iI feel badly because these men are obviously having mental problems
Mental Problems? How about penis problems?
I just finished reading, “UPD Facebook sparks controversy” which I agree with 100%.
WHY, therefore, did the Phoenix publish the June 25th article regarding the men at “The Eagle” incident? None of those men had even been convicted yet!
Tauni, I’d say it’s a matter of what’s newsworthy. With the political connections and high profile figure, that case certainly rose to the level of newsworthy. This is why it was covered by all local media outlets. As you know, I was wrongly charged with a crime once. In my case I never took a plea, was exonerated and even won a civil rights lawsuit. But I never blamed the media for reporting it everyday on the front page. It’s public information, and considering my profile, it was newsworthy. I knew I’d get my day in court. I also never heard anyone defending me and saying the media shouldn’t have covered that story. To the contrary, I still get it thrown in my face even after winning at every possible level.
Hi, Larry! I knew I’d probably get your attention with this.;)
Personally I was somewhat surprised you were the one who wrote this story, as both you & your father had been accused of things in the past & were considered “guilty” by the media irrespective of any court findings. I have always believed the UPD should not allow comments following the arrest reports. If a person is innocent, or even if they are guilty & somehow ended up in a bad place in life resulting in an arrest, they don’t deserve to have such hateful vitriol flung at them by the “Holier-than-thou” Uticans who seem to be plentiful on that forum. It wasn’t right when it was done to you; it’s STILL not right now.
But that’s just the bleeding-heart-liberal in me..