Police: 5 Arrested For Endangering Mentally Handicapped Person

May 02, 2008 6:27 PM

CBS 6 News Staff

After a month long investigation, State Police in Livingston arrested five men for abusing a mentaly handicapped teen.

Investigators say Ben Ezzell, 22, of Red Hook, Joseph L. Wenk, 28 of Livingston NY, David J. Bocchino, 23 of Livingston NY, Eric S. Coons, 21 of Red Hook NY and Gerald J. Moore, 21 of Red Hook NY endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.

Ezzell is also charged with engaging in a sex acts with the teen, and Wenk with menacing her with a stun gun.

Police say the men attended a party in which the mentally handicaped teen ended up disrobing.

Ben Ezzell was arraigned in the town of Livingston Court and remanded to the Columbia County Jail on $20,000 cash bail and $40,000 bond.

Joseph Wenk and Gerald Moore were arraigned in Livingston court and remanded to the Columbia County jail on $5,000 cash bail and $10,000 bond. David Bocchino was arraigned in Livingston Court and remanded to the jail on $2,500 cash bail and $5,000 bond. Eric S. Coons was issued an Appearance Ticket.

All defendants are set to reappear in the Livingston Town Court on May 08, 2008.