HUDSON — A Greene County man plans to go to trial on nine harassment charges against him in connection with Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson.
Melvin Lett Jr., 44, of Catskill, appeared before City Court Judge John Connor Jr. on Tuesday morning.
Connor said each charge is related to separate letters allegedly sent on a monthly basis to an individual. The trial, which will be heard by a judge, not a jury, will determine whether the letters constitute harassment.
Lett wrote more than 40 letters to Johnson from prison over the past year, the mayor alleged last month. A six-month order of protection for Johnson and his family was issued last month, replacing an order of protection issued until Feb. 22, 2022, because of a terroristic threat charge that has since been dropped.
Connor confirmed Tuesday the terroristic threat felony charge against Lett was dismissed, as was as a second-degree aggravated harassment charge on which Lett was not arraigned. The Columbia County District Attorney’s Office asked to replace the terroristic threat charge with the aggravated harassment charge at one point.
Connor has upheld nine remaining charges of harassment against Lett.
Connor last month told Lett’s attorney, Dennis McEvoy, of Koweek Cranna & McEvoy, of Hudson, he would check whether the court is permitted to host an in-person, non-jury trial, and Connor on Tuesday confirmed they could.
McEvoy asked for potential trial dates to review with Lett, but Connor said McEvoy was getting ahead of himself.
Columbia County Assistant District Attorney Krista Kline confirmed Tuesday there is no plea offer. McEvoy said it is clear Lett wants to go to trial.
Lett attempted to speak but Connor stopped him.
“I gotta be able to say something,” Lett said.
Kline and McEvoy attended Lett’s Tuesday court appearance virtually. Lett and Connor were present in person.
Connor said he would adjourn the case for two weeks to give a chance for motions to be filed. Lett again attempted to speak and Connor again stopped him, telling him not to interrupt.
“Hang on, don’t interrupt me,” Connor said.
Connor asked if all nine charges would be tried at the same time or separately. Kline said they should be tried at once and McEvoy asked to confer with Lett, which Connor agreed to.
Connor allowed Lett a chance to speak and reminded Lett his attorney was attending virtually and could not consult with him on the spot.
Lett said he is seeking new counsel and wants McEvoy to release discovery to his new attorney.
Lett has not retained another attorney but has narrowed down his selections to two. Lett’s choices for representation are from outside the county, “for obvious reasons,” he said.
Lett wants to counteract the harassment charges, and McEvoy has not done that, he said, as to the reason he is looking for a new attorney.
“This is ridiculous, with all due respect,” Lett said.
Lett has been trying to gain custody of one of his three children and to find employment, he said. He is 44 years old with three children and is not thinking about the mayor, Lett added.
Connor told Lett that McEvoy helped drop a family charge against Lett and Lett took credit for the action.
“I know the law very well,” Lett said.
Lett’s next scheduled court appearance is April 27 at 9:15 a.m.