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Former village justice Robert Alexander says he would never do anything to hurt the people of Corfu

By Howard B. Owens

Former Village of Corfu justice Robert Alexander said after his appearance in County Court this afternoon that he would never, ever, do anything to hurt the people of his lifelong hometown.

Alexander would not discuss the specifics of the case against him -- he's charged with coercion and official misconduct -- but reiterated in a short statement to media gathered outside the courthouse that he's a born-again Christian and that he wouldn't break the law.

"I had the privileged of serving in the Village of Corfu for 24 years," Alexander said. "I grew up there. I love that village, and when I see people or hear people in social media or on television or anything like that say anything about a case, I say, let a case run its course, number one, but number two, the wonderful people of Corfu shouldn’t have to be put through all those kinds of things where it’s played out in the media versus where it’s played out in a court."

Asked whether he would take the case against him to trial, Alexander said that's something for him and his attorney to discuss and otherwise declined to comment.

The changes stem from what may have been an alleged attempt by Alexander to clear the name of his daughter, Brandi Watts.

Watts worked for Alexander as his court clerk from 2009 to 2011.

After Watts was named in a NYS comptroller's audit that allegedly found the court was missing more than $10,000 in funds, Alexander reportedly asked his new court clerk, Pam Yasses, to audit the court books. Yasses reportedly completed the audit and found the court was missing funds.

According to Yasses, who spoke about the situation at an Oct. 8 meeting of village trustees, Alexander did not accept the results of the new audit and Yasses complained that Alexander was trying to intimidate her and get her to quit her job.

The allegations against Alexander reportedly stem from that incident.

Alexander denied breaking the law.

"I won’t say anything about the case, except I will only say I love the people of Corfu and never do anytihng, as a born-again Christian, as a man serving them, I would never even think of breaking the law in any way, shape or form, no less doing it," Alexander said. "I would certainly would never, ever, ever want to bring anything that would hurt those people that I served for 24 years. We'll let it play out in court."

Alexander also told reporters, "I’m a Christian, I believe in Jesus Christ and I believe in the end I will be vindicated."

Neither Watts nor Alexander entered a plea today and both are scheduled to reappear at 2:15 p.m., Aug. 12, in County Court.

Doug Yeomans

Does he actually believe that being a born again Christian makes it impossible for him to commit a crime? I guess he's never seen a prison documentary before.

Jul 22, 2013, 11:55pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

I'd say that's exactly what the judge is looking for. He's claiming a belief in Christ as a defense for any action he might ever engage in.

Jul 23, 2013, 9:14am Permalink
John Roach

Chris, I don't know. How many have you?

While the initial reports look bad for him, I am one of those silly people that say wait until proven guilty.

And for the record, while I know Alexander, we are not friends, so I have no dog in the race

Jul 23, 2013, 1:08pm Permalink
John Roach

Nicholas, he might have known, and maybe not. It would not be the first time a family member committed a crime and other family members did not know about it. And maybe he did try to interfere, but I don't know for sure.

He might be guilty as hell, but maybe not. That's my point. But if he is found guilt, then I hope he gets hammered by the court.

Jul 23, 2013, 1:25pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

I don't have a dog in the race either, unless you count judicial efficacy. Also, I probably committed eight crimes yesterday, and when the justice system catches up to me, I'd like to have a trustworthy judge that won't convict me of nine to cover his sorry, embezzling ass.

Jul 23, 2013, 2:06pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

and his daughter's sorry, embezzling ass.

Whatever, I'm responding to John Roach...I can't remember the last time I cared as much about his opinion as I did about a used piece of toilet paper floating in stale tank water, so there's that.

Jul 23, 2013, 2:11pm Permalink
John Roach

Chris, FACT, it was his daughter that was arrested for the missing money, not him. He is accused of attempting to help her.

Where did you get that it was him that was accused of embezzling?

Jul 23, 2013, 2:12pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

He is accused of attempting to help her. Herpa derpa derp.

Judicial efficacy is the basis of democracy FACT.

'Go shit in your hat.' - Junior Soprano

Jul 23, 2013, 2:18pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

Oh, you think I'm upset? Refer back to comment #16.

Anyone else want to defend criminal judges? John and his poorly constructed arguments bore me.

Jul 23, 2013, 2:59pm Permalink
John Roach

Chris, temper, temper again. I am not defending or accusing him. Please try to get that right.

All I said is he has not been found guilty yet. And while the limited reported information puts him in a bad light, that is hardly a verdict.

Jul 23, 2013, 3:23pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

Who's engaging in personal attacks? I'm just yawning. Terrible judge is terrible, time for a replacement. The electoral process will take care of keeping any of his family members out of office for at least half a generation.

Corfu's going tohave a bigger problem dumping their mayor in the electoral compost pile.

What the hell's wrong with that town anyway?

Jul 23, 2013, 3:27pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

For anyone who cares, the suspicion of judicial impropriety is as big a problem as actual impropriety. Judges have to be squeaky clean because the legal assumption is that nothing outside the facts of any specific case will ever sway their opinion, otherwise no case can ever be heard fairly.

Judicial propriety and judicial efficacy are the basis of our legal system.

Serving as a corrections officer, or whatever else this dude did over the course of his life has absolutely no bearing here.

Jul 23, 2013, 3:31pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

Unless he believes in Jesus, of course. that's totally important and could realistically erase any chance or assumption of guilt.

As St. Paul said in his epistles: any Judge who loves Christ shall be held unaccountable for his sins from this day until he ascendeth into Heaven.

Jul 23, 2013, 3:36pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

But then again Chris your opinion on judges is ......how did you put it?

"Worth as much as a used piece of toilet paper floating in stale tank water."

Everything that a Judge did in his life previous to becoming a Judge has bearing to the ethics situation.

"In fact, the expiration date was last week on all your bulls**t with that."
---Tony Soprano

Jul 23, 2013, 3:49pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

Nah, Kyle, that was my opinion on a certain other poster here. I hold Judges in pretty high esteem actually, which is why I take offense when one commits a crime (allegedly.)

Tony- 'You know, sometimes what happens here is like takin' a sh*t

Dr. Melfi - Yes, okay, but I prefer to think of as more like childbirth.

Tony - Trust me, It's like takin' a sh*t.

Jul 23, 2013, 3:56pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

"For anyone who cares, the suspicion of judicial impropriety is as big a problem as actual impropriety. Judges have to be squeaky clean because the legal assumption is that nothing outside the facts of any specific case will ever sway their opinion, otherwise no case can ever be heard fairly."

How could anyone disagree with that Chris?

The only problem with your tussle with John however, if you are using that as the basis of your argument, is that the State Judicial Board DID in fact remove him, so the appearance of impropriety issue is moot at this point.

He is going on trial at this point, John is right, if he is convicted, because he was a judge at the time of the offense and did so in that position, may the full weight of the law hammer him.

His long service in the Corrections Department may mitigate sentence just as it might for anyone else convicted of a crime, but it shouldn't and likely won't affect the jury if this case goes that far. My guess is that there is going to be a plea deal in the offing anyway.

Jul 23, 2013, 3:56pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

Mark, my original argument in this thread is that his insistence that belief in Christ's divinity somehow bars him from doing any wrong is stupid. In fact, it's possibly the stupidest thing I've ever heard as a defense to criminality.

My 'tussle' with John is non-existent.

Jul 23, 2013, 4:03pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

To be clear:

Mr. Alexander is not accused of participating in the crimes his daughter is accused of. If the accusation against Mr. Alexander could be characterized as anything related to the alleged missing funds it is that Mr. Alexander was engaged in a cover up. He is accused of intimidating an employee who believes she found confirming evidence of missing funds.

Nobody has ever accused Mr. Alexander in participating in the misappropriation of funds.

According to the Village attorney, Mr. Alexander is responsible for returning missing funds, regardless of how they went missing. That isn't the same thing as saying Mr. Alexander was involved in the funds going missing.

Mr. Alexander did not seek reelection in for the Village of Corfu justice position. He is, however, a justice in the Town of Pembroke. He remains a justice, though all of his cases have been reassigned to David O'Connor and he is not allowed to assume new cases until further notice.

To go out on a limb a bit, my impression of Mr. Alexander, having followed this closely now for 18 months, is that he is protective of his daughter and honestly doesn't believe she did anything wrong and that he honestly believes he did not do anything inappropriate in regards to his most recent village court clerk. And I imagine in time we'll get to see what a jury thinks of this little corner of the mess.

And things like, "John and his poorly constructed arguments bore me" is getting into personal attack realm. It's mild and John can handle himself, but it's really not appropriate in this forum.

Jul 23, 2013, 4:18pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

I agree, using Christianity or any religion for that matter as proof that you are innocent of wrongdoing is pretty distasteful. Whether he's guilty or not. Having said that, he's hardly the first public figure to go down that road.

Jul 23, 2013, 4:24pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

"Hamlet," Act 5...

SCENE I. A churchyard.

Enter two Clowns, with spades and pickaxes

First Clown

Is she to be buried in Christian burial that
wilfully seeks her own salvation?

Second Clown

I tell thee she is: and therefore make her grave
straight: the crowner hath sat on her, and finds it
Christian burial.

First Clown

How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her
own defence?

Second Clown

Why, 'tis found so.

First Clown

It must be 'se offendendo;' it cannot be else. For
here lies the point: if I drown myself wittingly,
it argues an act: and an act hath three branches: it
is, to act, to do, to perform: argal, she drowned
herself wittingly.

Second Clown

Nay, but hear you, goodman delver,--

First Clown

Give me leave. Here lies the water; good: here
stands the man; good; if the man go to this water,
and drown himself, it is, will he, nill he, he
goes,--mark you that; but if the water come to him
and drown him, he drowns not himself: argal, he
that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life.

Second Clown

But is this law?

First Clown

Ay, marry, is't; crowner's quest law.

Second Clown

Will you ha' the truth on't? If this had not been
a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o'
Christian burial.

First Clown

Why, there thou say'st: and the more pity that
great folk should have countenance in this world to
drown or hang themselves, more than their even
Christian. Come, my spade. There is no ancient
gentleman but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers:
they hold up Adam's profession.

Second Clown

Was he a gentleman?

First Clown

He was the first that ever bore arms.

Second Clown

Why, he had none.

First Clown

What, art a heathen? How dost thou understand the
Scripture? The Scripture says 'Adam digged:'
could he dig without arms? I'll put another
question to thee: if thou answerest me not to the
purpose, confess thyself--

Second Clown

Go to.

First Clown

What is he that builds stronger than either the
mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?

Second Clown

The gallows-maker; for that frame outlives a
thousand tenants.

Jul 24, 2013, 2:13pm Permalink

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