Patch thanks the for provided the below update—which does not indicate a conviction—and :
Putnam County Consumer Affairs Director Jean Noel and Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith jointly report the arrests in separate incidents of two men for conducting unregistered chimney sweep work in Putnam County. The men charged
Mr. Christopher F. Lyon, aged 31, of 711 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, was arrested on
Saturday, July 28th, and charged with performing chimney cleaning work at a home in Patterson without being properly registered to conduct such work. His arrest was the result of a joint investigation by County Code Enforcement Officer Mary Craig of the Department of Consumer Affairs Licensing Enforcement Unit and Sheriff’s Investigator Robert Ferris.
Mr. Evan R. Roche, aged 28, of 1343 Waverly Avenue in Farmingville, Long Island,
was arrested in Mahopac on Monday, July 30th after he reportedly did chimney cleaning at a residence in that hamlet. Code Enforcement Officer Craig and Sheriff’s Investigator Jeffrey Devolve investigated that case. In addition to the unregistered contracting offense, Investigator Devolve also charged Mr. Roche with unlawful possession of marihuana and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon after the defendant was allegedly found to have the drug, an unlicensed .22-caliber pistol and a set of metal knuckles in his work van.
When arrested, Messrs. Lyon and Roche were working for a business known as Empire Chimney Corporation out of Long Island, which is not registered to perform chimney work in Putnam County. The company is believed to operate under at least two other corporate names: All Care Chimney Corporation and World Class Chimney Corporation.
Mr. Lyon was arraigned before Kent Town Justice Peter Collins, acting on behalf of the Town of Patterson Justice Court, and was remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $500 cash bail, which he posted on the day of his arrest. He is scheduled to appear in Patterson Court on September 20th at 5:00 PM.
Mr. Roche was arraigned before Carmel Town Justice Joseph Spofford, who remanded him to the jail in lieu of $2,500.00 cash bail or bail bond. Mr. Roche’s bail was posted on the day after his arrest to secure his release. He is due back in Carmel Court on August 20th at 6:00 PM.
The contracting code charges against both men are misdemeanors punishable by up
to one year in jail and fines of up to $1,000.00. The weapons charges against Mr. Roche are also misdemeanors and carry similar penalties, whereas the marihuana charge is a violation punishable by a fine.
An investigation is continuing and additional charges may be forthcoming in the case. Any Putnam County residents who have had—or who have made arrangements to have—work done by Empire Chimney Corporation, All Care Chimney Corporation or World Class Chimney Corporation are asked to notify the Sheriff’s Office at (845) 225-4300 or the Putnam County Department of Consumer Affairs at (845) 808-1617.
