Castellano seeks sentencing postponement

By TOM KANE

MONTICELLO — Richard Castellano’s New York City lawyer said Castellano is seriously ill and can not appear in court.

“He has several serious health problems,” said attorney Jeffrey Schwartz. “He’s been diagnosed with an advanced stage of Parkinson’s disease and he has been experiencing serious mental problems. Right now, he is being evaluated in a psychiatric hospital in New York.”

Schwartz did not know the name of the hospital.

“When that’s over, he will go into another hospital,” said Schwartz.

Castellano was to have been sentenced to at least a year in the county jail this past Monday, but it was postponed when Judge Frank LaBuda had to go out of town. Castellano is rescheduled to appear this Friday at 9:30 a.m.

“The judge is adamant that this case move forward,” said County Court Clerk Earl Lilley.

Schwartz said that he would appear but without Castellano. “He’s in the hospital,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz intends to seek a postponement for a month.

If Castellano does not make retribution in the amount of approximately $12,000 to four former students in his acting studio by the time of sentencing, he will be sentenced to four separate terms of one year apiece in the county jail.

Two months ago in court, Castellano admitted that he had taken money from the students with the promise of helping them get a Screen Actors Guild card. He was unable to help the students but did not return the money.

“He has substantially raised the money [to make retribution],” Schwartz said last week.