Judge releases suspect charged with terroristic threat at church

Cameron A. Jamieson, 47, was arrested Monday and charged with one count of making a terroristic threat, a class D felony, after he allegedly interrupted the Mass service Sunday at the church, according to a statement from Hudson police.

Witnesses who attended the Sunday Mass described an individual in a mask and long, black cloak and brandishing a glass bottle, who disrupted the service by shouting “all hail” at members of the congregation and church officials, according to police.

The individual, suspected to be Jamieson, was apprehended by members of the congregation before police arrived, and handed over to the custody of the Hudson Police Department when they responded at about 9:38 a.m.

Jamieson was transported to Columbia Memorial Health on Sunday for a mental health evaluation. Following his discharge from the hospital, Jamieson was taken into custody by the Hudson police and held on $3,000 bail.

However, according to Columbia County Public Defender Shane Zoni, Jamieson’s charge was not eligible for bail under the state 2019 bail reform law.

“The judge put our client in jail on bail,” said Columbia County Public Defender Shane Zoni. “The charge he was charged with was not an offense he can be put in jail for, the law does not allow that.”

The bail reform law was passed by the state Legislature in 2019 as part of the budget for fiscal year 2020, and went into effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Under the law, the charge of making a terroristic threat is not eligible for bail.

“The section of the law he was charged with is a nonqualifying offense,” Zoni said. “Which means at an arraignment the court is without the authority to set bail, and they have to release that person.”

Assistant Public Defender Michael Diamond requested that Jamieson be released at his appearance in front on Hudson City Court Judge John Connor Monday, which Connor denied.

Zoni said Diamond argued for Jamieson’s release a second time Tuesday, and when that was denied, he filed a writ with the Columbia County Court.

The writ was granted at around 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, and Jamieson was released shortly after, Zoni said.

“The judge agreed, and released him that afternoon,” he said. “The higher court did apply it (the bail reform law) correctly.”

Hudson City Court Judge John Connor could not be reached for comment on Jamieson’s release.

Jamieson was in Columbia County Jail for roughly a day and a half, and is scheduled to appear in Hudson City Court on April 23, Zoni said.

According to New York Penal Law, the sentencing term for a class D felony is at least two years, and cannot exceed seven years.