By TOM KANE

NEWBURGH - Jocelyne Castellano, wife of actor Richard Castellano and executive director of the Narrowsburg International Independent Film Festival, filed for personal bankruptcy in federal court last week.

"Any action against her, past and present, is stayed by the application for bankruptcy," said Town of Tusten Justice Ralph Huebner. He indicated that Castellano's application did not apply to the film festival. Joycelyne refused comment on the procedure.

Twelve suits were decided against the beleaguered husband and wife team in small claims court in Tusten two months ago. Ten of the suits were brought by members of the film crew hired by the Castellanos to make the locally-filmed production of "Four Deadly Reasons."

Four other crew members are expected to present their cases against the Castellanos at a future date.

Earlier this month, attorney Deb Ireland, who was one of the 12 claimants in Tusten Small Claims Court, filed a contempt of court charge against Jocelyne for giving inadequate information on a financial statement that the court required in the civil cases.

This too is stayed by the bankruptcy application, Huebner said.

Richard Castellano, who was released from the Sullivan County Jail last week on $10,000 bail, will appear in Sullivan County Court next Wednesday for the beginning of his criminal case on five counts of grand larceny.

The criminal charge against Richard Castellano states that he schemed to defraud four actors from his acting school by taking approximately $2,000 from each with a promise to get them waivers for a Screen Actors Guild card. The actors never received their waivers.