MONTICELLO, NY — Members of the Monticello Police arrested William T. Staesser, age 28, of Woodbourne on Sunday, January 30,  and again on Wednesday, February 2. On Sunday, Staesser was charged with the felonies of four counts of Forgery in the 2nd degree, two counts of Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree and tampering with physical evidence. He was also charged with Misdemeanor Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree.

Staesser was arrested following an investigation into the theft of a credit and debit card on Saturday, January 22,  from a parked vehicle on North Street in the Village of Monticello. The cards were stolen while the owner was attending the funeral services for Forestburgh Firefighter William “Billy” Steinberg. Staesser then used the stolen cards to make purchases at several business locations in the Village of Monticello and also at Walmart in the Town of Thompson. Monticello Police used video surveillance from those locations to help identify Staesser. When arrested on Sunday, Staesser was found to be in possession of a small amount of crack cocaine which he attempted to conceal in his mouth. Staesser was arraigned in the Village of Monticello Justice Court and as per NYS bail reform guidelines released on his own recognizance. 

Staesser had been previously arrested by Monticello Police on Thursday, December 9, 2021 for Grand Larceny 3rd degree and Criminal possession of stolen property in the 4th degree in which he also stole two credit cards from a vehicle on West Broadway. In that incident, Staesser was caught in the act by the vehicle owner and detained until Monticello Police arrived and arrested him. As per NYS bail reform guidelines, he was issued an appearance ticket at that time and a disposition is still pending in court.

On Tuesday Staesser was again arrested by Monticello Police and charged with the felonies of Grand Larceny in the 3rd degree and 2 counts of Forgery in the 2nd degree for stealing a debit card from a vehicle on Bank Street during the evening on Monday after being R.O.R. from Village of Monticello Court. Staesser used the stolen debit card to again make purchases at locations in the Village of Monticello. 

Staesser was arraigned in the Village of Monticello Justice Court before Associate Justice Leo Glass and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail on $15,000 cash bail, $25,000 bail bond or $40,000 secured insurance bond.     

The filing of an accusatory instrument is merely an accusation and every person who is arrested is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.  Monticello Police would like to remind persons to always make sure their vehicles are locked or not left unattended while running.