Teacher back on job after charge dropped
Husband she’s accused of striking with car has died; investigation still open, police say
KINGSTON, N.Y. » The Hurley man who police said was struck by a car driven by his wife, a Kingston school district teacher, has died, but the lone criminal charge against the woman has been dropped and she is back at work, according to police and school district officials.
The investigation remains open, though, and new charges are possible, according to a state police senior investigator.
Police said Susan M. Holochuck, 55, of Walton Lane, Hurley, struck her husband, Carlton Stewart, with a red Cadillac about 4:55 p.m. Sept. 25 near their home and then drove off. She was charged with reckless endangerment at 9:15 p.m., after returning, state police said.
Senior Investigator Cliff Baker said that charge was dropped in Hurley Town Court “unbeknownst” to state police. He did not have details about the court proceeding.
“We’ll figure it out, and it’s not going to prevent us from continuing our investigation,” Baker said. “There shouldn’t be any reason you can’t refile [charges].”
Hurley Town Court Clerk Irma Moore on Monday declined to say when or why the charge were dropped. She said Town Justice John E. Parker would be away at a conference until Wednesday.
According to the A. Carr & Son Funeral Home website, Stewart died Thursday, and a memorial service was held Saturday at the funeral home.
Baker said Monday that he did not know whether the charge was dropped before of after Stewart died. He also said state police will meet this week with the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office to discuss the case.
On Friday, Kingston school district spokeswoman Kate Heidecker said Holochuck, who was placed on paid administrative leave after the Sept. 25 incident, had been reinstated and returned to her classroom at J. Watson Bailey Middle School. She remained on the job Monday, Heidecker said.
The spokeswoman said Holochuck was placed on leave Sept. 28 and was reinstated Oct. 11, the day before Stewart died.
State police are asking that anyone with information about the Sept. 25 incident call them at (845) 3381702.