Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a James A. Pidala, 24, of Philipstown.

On December 9, 2016, residents of the Village of Nelsonville called the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department to report that their home had been entered unlawfully by an unknown subject and their property had been stolen. On December 15, 2016, the same homeowners reported that someone had again attempted to unlawfully enter their home. Members of the Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) conducted a criminal investigation which culminated in the arrest of James A. Pidala on December 16, 2016 for both incidents. Pidala was arrested in the Town of Philipstown and charged with Burglary in the Second Degree; Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree; and Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree, felonies. He was arraigned by Town of Philipstown Justice Stephen Tomann and committed to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000.00 cash bail or $20,000.00 bond pending a future court appearance.

If found guilty of the felony charges the defendant could face up to 15 years in a New York State Correctional Facility and a fine of up to $15,000.00.