BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The man who caused a manhunt near Brockport two weeks ago was back in court today. Despite six charges of stealing, 16 misdemeanor convictions and two open felony cases, Christopher Cole was allowed to remain free.
After Cole’s arrest, the Monroe County District Attorney’s office requested $1,000 bail at Cole’s arraignment in the county’s centralized arraignment court. Instead, Cole was released to pre-trial supervision where he has to check in with the court once a week.
Today, the judge in Sweden Town Court said “the people have a right to pursue harm in harm.”
“Harm in harm” is a 2022 amendment to 2019 bail reform laws in New York. It says if a person is arrested for person or property crimes twice, a judge “may set bail or order detention on the new charge.”
But harm in harm is only for felonies and A misdemeanors. Therefore, Cole’s larceny charges won’t qualify.
The judge ordered a “harm in harm” hearing for Cole on August 20th.
Cole’s public defender objected telling the court “(Cole’s) already released.”
Two weeks ago the sheriff’s office manhunt caught Christopher Cole. The sheriff says Cole tried to steal from Walmart and Lowes in Brockport.
Body camera video three years ago shows Cole as he was stopped by police, suspected of shoplifting at the Kohls in Batavia. The Monroe County Sheriff says Cole has 16 misdemeanor convictions, two outstanding felonies and now 6 new larceny charges.
Berkeley Brean, News10NBC: “How do you think the system allows for him to be out doing this stuff allegedly?”
J. Morgan Levy, attorney for Christopher Moore: “Yeah, I think the system is not working. I’m not a criminal defense attorney, I’m not a prosecutor but just from an outside perspective is seems as though bail reform is not working to curb bad behavior.”
J. Morgan Levy is the attorney for Christopher Moore. Nearly every time Christopher Cole got questioned by police for shoplifting up and down the Thruway, he gave the name of his former high school classmate – Christopher Moore.
“Christopher Martin Moore,” Christopher Cole is heard saying on the body camera video.
It happened so many times, the real Christopher Moore was wrongly arrested by Webster police for shoplifting. There were so many warrants for Moore’s arrest he was looking at years in prison.
Christopher Moore: “You’re sitting in your house, minding your own business and the next thing you know you’re being pulled out of your own home and detained at a police station. Humiliated.”
J. Morgan Levy: “It has a tremendous impact on Chris. And to see that there’s still been no consequence for this individual is devastating.”
Again, Chris Cole is back here in the Town of Sweden Court on August 20 and we’ll be here to see him again.
Christopher Moore sued the Town of Webster, Webster police, the officers who arrested him, and Kohl’s security. The court dismissed the case against the town but the case continues in federal court.
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