A Putnam County deputy sheriff saw one of two criminal charges dismissed in his domestic violence case earlier this month while a separate assault charge remains pending, according to courtroom reporting and prior case records.
During a May 4 appearance before Southeast Town Justice Louis Gasparini, Deputy Sheriff Kevin Osika had a second-degree aggravated harassment charge dropped but the assault charge was not dismissed and continues to move forward in town court, according to courtroom reporting by journalist David McKay Wilson. The court directed Osika to return on June 16 for further proceedings.
Osika is the husband of Erin Crowley, a Putnam County legislator and aide to U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, adding a dimension to a case that has already drawn attention due to the involvement of a law enforcement officer.
The case originated from a February arrest following a domestic incident investigation by New York State Police in which Osika was charged with both third-degree assault and second-degree aggravated harassment. At the time, he was arraigned in Southeast Town Court and released.
The prosecution of the case was subsequently reassigned after the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office recused itself from the case due to the staff’s familiarity with both Osika and Crowley. That led to the appointment of a special prosecutor from Dutchess County to handle the matter.
Osika has been suspended from his job without pay since the time of his arrest, and Crowley was granted an order of protection.
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