Two Cortlandt residents arrested following investigation

Cortlandt, New York – New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations from the Cortlandt barracks arrested two Cortlandt residents following a detailed investigation.

On September 13, 2015, 33-year-old Anthony R. Mahabir of Cortlandt was charged with Criminal Contempt 2^nd Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor.  A Good Samaritan arrived at the Cortlandt barracks to report a possible order of protection violation.  Troopers conducted a welfare check and discovered that Mahabir violated an active court order of protection by having contact with the protected parties.

Mahabir was arraigned before the Village of Buchanan Court and remanded to the Westchester County Jail.

Subsequent to Mahabir’s arrest, an investigation revealed that the defendant possessed 11 snakes in his home that were not properly confined to secure cages.  The reptiles were removed from the home with the assistance of the SPCA and ENCON.

New York State Environmental Conservation will be lodging separate charges against Anthony Mahabir for the illegal possessing 3 pythons without a permit.  The other 8 snakes seized by the SPCA were Boa Constrictors. Some of the snakes were over 12′ in length.On September 16, 2015, Victoria Mahabir, 46 years old, of Cortlandt, was arrested for Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  Mahabir knowingly allowed her child to reside in the house despite the fact that the reptiles were kept in unsecured Rubbermaid totes.  She was issued an appearance ticket directing her to appear before the Town of Cortlandt Court on September 18, 2015.  Anthony Mahabir also faces the charge of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

The State Police were assisted by the SPCA Westchester Humane Law Enforcement Unit and the New York State Environmental Conservation.