Pine Bush man admits helping Tenn. fugitives
Richard Dana has pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor of hindering prosecution in the summer 2017 case.
SHAWANGUNK, N.Y. » A Pine Bush man admitted in Town Court to knowingly helping two fugitives who were wanted in Tennessee for attempted murder, kidnapping, assault and robbery, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.
Richard Dana, 55, of 965 Upper Mountain Road, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Shawangunk Town Court to the misdemeanor of hindering prosecution. He was charged by state police on Sept. 8, 2017, with the felony of hindering prosecution.
On June 20, 2017, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee issued an alert about fugitives Jarret Cole Heitmann and Makayla Danielle Stillwell, who were wanted for attempted second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and aggravated robbery. At the time, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the two were armed with an assault rifle and shotgun, and “should be considered armed and dangerous.”
New York State Police were alerted to sightings of Heitmann and Stillwell in Pine Bush and Bloomingburg and began a multicounty manhunt.
On June 23, 2017, Dana found Heitmann and Stillwell hiding in a shed on his property on Upper Mountain Road in Pine Bush. Despite knowing that the two were wanted, he gave them food, shelter, pillows and a blanket, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Dana also allowed Heitmann and Stillwell to shower in his home and stay for a night, the prosecutor’s office said.
In the early morning hours of June 24, 2017, Dana drove the fugitives across state lines to a Walmart in Matamoras, Pa., and gave them a daypack, clothing, emergency pouches, blankets and a knife, the District Attorney’s Office said.
Heitmann was captured on Aug. 31 and Stillwell on Sept. 3, both in Louisiana.
Dana is to be sentenced June 19.