More terrorist acts highlighted in Raucci trial
SCHENECTADY -- The trial of accused arsonist and terrorist Steven Raucci resumed Monday after a three-day hiatus.
Testifying first on the stand was Hal Gray, a former utility worker for the Schenectady School District. Gray testified that he asked Steven Raucci one day after the Rotterdam home explosion in August 2001 -- the bombing inadvertently targeted at the Capitummino family -- if he had anything to do with it.
“He just smiled and grinned,” said Gray.
Witnesses testified last week that the bombing was meant to take place at the home of Capitumminos' neighbor Rotterdam police officer Robert Denny, who had filed a grievance against a union member known by Raucci.
Gray then read aloud an anonymous letter sent to CSEA complained about Raucci's actions as a department head and union president: “Employees are basically tortured and everything is about power. The district bought Raucci a framed photo of Marlon Brando the Godfather that he proudly hangs in his office. This is exactly how the department is run. Like something out of a gangster movie.”
Hal Gray said he presented that CSEA letter to Raucci, who apparently believed that Hal’s wife, Debby, had authored the anonymous letter.
On the morning of May 1, 2005, Hal Gray awoke at 4 a.m. to get ready to leave for a Las Vegas vacation and noticed something unusual outside: All four sides of his house were spray painted in red with the word "Rat."
Gray says his truck and his wife’s Lexus were also vandalized in red spray paint. The damages to the home alone ran past $29,500.
The prosecution presented 14 photographs of the damages to the jury.
Shortly thereafter, the prosecution presented Judge Polly Hoye with a scheduling conflict with one of their witnesses who was due to testify later in the afternoon but couldn’t. Hal Gray was then temporarily dismissed from the stand and Saratoga Sheriff’s Investigator David Towne took to the stand.
Towne testified that he investigated the Gray’s home on the morning of May 1st 2005. The Saratoga Sheriff’s Investigator also spoke with Steven Raucci at his home later that morning. “He denied knowledge of it” says Towne when asked if he had inquired to Steven Raucci about the damage done to the Gray’s home.
David Towne says he also checked Raucci’s garage for red spray paint, checked his hands and inspected his work vehicle for any evidence but found nothing.
Towne’s testimony lasted only about 10 minutes before he was dismissed and Hal Gray retook the stand.
Judge Polly Hoye sent the jury on an early lunch due to the fact that Hal Gray will be on the stand for much of Monday.
With the jury and witness out of the courtroom the prosecution and defense debated evidentiary matters with the Judge.
In the afternoon Hal Gray resumed his position on the stand and testified to more incidents that happened.
He explained a meeting he had with Raucci in which the defendant told him “I don’t like to do things myself anymore. I just pick up a phone and make it happen."
Shortly thereafter Gray says 3 of his tires were slashed on his truck.
Another incident Gray says he was pulling out of his driveway and found a threatening note. No DNA or fingerprints were found on that note.
Yet another time red paint was poured all over his pickup truck.
In February of 2009 his home was targeted again. This time yellow paint was poured all over his front door and front porch. It was this incident that the Grays were waiting. They had set up home surveillance video and caught the person in the act. The only thing is the person seen running to and from the house is not identifiable.
Raucci’s attorney Ronald DeAngelus tried to discredit Gray because of a current lawsuit he has pending against Raucci for the damages.
DeAngelus also pointed out that Hal Gray cannot identify the person in the home surveillance video and he didn’t see the person responsible for any of the other damages.
