Teacher cleared in husband's death
An Ulster County grand jury has chosen not to indict a middle school teacher in connection with the death of her husband, which occurred 17 days after police said the teacher struck him with her car.
The decision by the grand jury was confirmed Thursday by the woman’s lawyer and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.
Susan M. Holochuck, 55, of Walton Lane, Hurley, was charged Sept. 25 with the misdemeanor of reckless endangerment after state police said she struck her husband, Carlton Stewart, with her car. Stewart died Oct. 12.
Police said at the time that Holochuck, a teacher at J. Watson Bailey Middle School in Kingston, struck Stewart with a red Cadillac about 4:55 p.m. Sept. 25 near their home and then drove off.
But Holochuck’s lawyer, Thomas Petro, disputes the police account.
“I do not believe that the grand jury found that my client struck her husband in any manner with a vehicle or otherwise by any means which caused any injury to him,” Petro said Thursday, declining to elaborate.
On Oct. 5, the initial misdemeanor charge against Holochuck was dismissed in Hurley Town Court at Petro’s request, Town Justice John Parker said later that month.
After the charge was dismissed, state police Senior Investigator Clifford Baker said the decision was made “unbeknownst” to state police. District Attorney Holley Carnright would not comment at the time.
Petro said the grand jury concluded its investigation on Dec. 14. Carnright’s office confirmed the grand jury’s decision in response to a state Freedom of Information Law request filed by the Freeman.
Petro said he was pleased with the outcome.
“I think that the [grand jury] investigation clearly showed that my client had nothing to do [with] causing any injuries suffered by her husband,” he said. “... We’re very appreciative of the grand jury finding and of the very professional manner in which the District Attorney’s Office ... and state police handled the investigation.”
Holochuck was placed on leave by the Kingston school district on Sept. 28 and was reinstated Oct. 11.