BELEAGURED ACTOR PLEADS NOT GUILTY

By TOM KANE

MONTICELLO - Richard Castellano pled not guilty at his arraignment before Sullivan County Judge Frank LaBuda last Monday.

Castellano's attorney, Jeffrey Schwartz of New York City, asked the judge to set a reasonable bail.

LaBuda, who last week revoked the $25,000 bail set by the Tusten Court a few weeks ago, will make a decision on bail Tuesday or Wednesday.

The trial has been set to begin 9:30 on Wednesday, November 8 in the Sullivan County Court in Monticello.

Last week, a Sullivan County grand jury indicted Castellano on four counts of grand larceny, one in the third degree and three in the fourth degree, and one count of a scheme to defraud. Castellano is charged with taking checks amounting to approximately $5,000 from actors in his acting school in exchange for a promise to get them Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) cards. Castellano failed to get the cards and spent the money.

If found guilty, the actor could go to jail for seven years.

Castellano was originally charged in the Town of Tusten Court during an August 30 preliminary hearing appearance, where he was arrested under a $25,000 bail. Not able to get a bail bond, he remains in jail.

Castellano's troubles mounted when the film crew he hired last summer to make "Four Deadly Reasons," a movie starring himself and giving roles to many local persons, brought him to small claims court. The crew members charged that they had not been paid for their time and services. Most of these charges have been decided against Castellano in small claims court.

While Castellano was battling the civil charges against him, the student actors came forward with the SAC card charge.

Additionally, Castellano is charged in criminal court with giving Narrowsburg farmer John Borg a bad $5,000 check. The district attorney has not yet moved on this charge.