Witness: My family paid price for taking stand against Raucci

SCHENECTADY -- Day seven of the Steven Raucci trial got off to a slow start but it quickly sped into the most emotional day in court yet.

Raucci, the former head of facilities for the Schenectady School District, is facing 23 felony charges that include arson and terrorism.

The prosecution spent all of Tuesday morning building background on how tough it was for other department heads and teachers to work with Steven Raucci as energy manager.

The first witness of the day was Mary Anne Fritz, a physical education teacher and athletics faculty manager for the Schenectady School District.

She testified to a number of problems she had in gaining access to gym facilities under Raucci. Fritz also testified that the lights for the stadium and gymnasium were never turned on when they were supposed to be.

Gary DiNola who is the retired wellness and athletic director for the Schenectady School District took the stand second in what would be the most emotional testimony to date.

The prosecution started off slow as DiNola talked about the pride he has as a "family man" and as an educated and hard worker.

DiNola testified that he took the concerns of many of the coaches and teachers to Raucci to try his best at getting them resolved amicably. DiNola called Raucci’s frugal actions as energy manager to “jeopardizing the safety of students and the community when they would arrive for the game."

DiNola said he tried to resolve the issues of supplying more keys for employees, repairing athletic fields, fixing sewage and other problems in the locker rooms, but an exchange of emails with Raucci in November of 2006 changed everything.

After a series of emails between DiNola and Raucci turned unfriendly, DiNola wrote an e-mail to Superintendent Eric Ely, adding this post-script: “I learned to park my beat-up Volvo in front of the security cameras near the loading dock."

Days after that exchange of emails, Gary DiNola woke up at home to find all four tires on his Jeep slashed.

After looking closer, he also found, as he described it, “an explosive of some sort sitting on my windshield. It had a cigarette attached to it. It appeared to not have gone off," says DiNola. 

The police were called and they investigated the scene. DiNola said he met with Superintendent Eric Ely that morning and told him that Ely had admitted to him that he heard rumors of this type of activity taking place. The defense objected and it was stricken from the record.

The testimony turned very emotional after D.A. Carney asked DiNola if he continued his advocacy for other teachers after that incident.

Teary-eyed, DiNola told the jury, “My family paid a price for taking a stand," DiNola shouted, his voice cracking. "It terrorized us!” DiNola’s wife, who was watching from the seats, became emotional as she watched her husband break down.

The defense objected and a heated exchange of voices took place as Carney voiced his opinion that the word "terrorize" was a legitimate word.

“It changed our life!” an emotional DiNola cried out as he fought back tears. “I’m angry!” he continued.

Carney asked if it affected their comfort and security, to which DiNola yelled, “It eliminated it!”

Defense attorney Ronald DeAngelus objected, but DiNola spoke over him, shouting, “It is what it is! It is what it is! SIT IN MY SHOES, SIR!” DiNola exploded at DeAngelus.

At that point D.A. Carney had no further questions, and Judge Polly Hoye agreed to take a lunch break.

Things calmed down for the rest of the day as the cross-examination of DiNola began after lunch.

Ronald DeAngelus right away asked if DiNola saw who placed that explosive on his vehicle. DiNola replied, "No." Raucci’s attorney then asked the former wellness director if he ever saw Steven Raucci commit any of the crimes he’s accused of. DiNola replied no again.

The DiNolas left the courthouse through a side entrance as the prosecution called up their next witness.

Lawrence Murphy, the chief technology officer for the district, testified that he had a good working relationship with the former head of facilities but admitted Raucci could be threatening at times.

Bruce Turek, who works in the technology department at the school, took the stand next. He told the jury that Steven Raucci asked him for Gary DiNola’s home address. Turek said he gave it to him. After word of the attempted bombing incident spread Turek said Raucci told him “Did you think it was meant to go off?” according to Turek.

The prosecution asked why Turek didn’t tell anyone about this, to which Turek replied, “I didn’t say anything because I thought something might happen to me."

Raucci’s longtime secretary Ellen Fredericks took the stand late Tuesday afternoon. She had explosive things to say about her conversations with Raucci and what she heard him say.

First Fredericks testified that she heard Raucci say “I’ll take care of Gary DiNola” before the incident that happened at his house. 

Fredericks also testified that Raucci told her and another gentleman that [i]if this ever goes to trial, you’re the one that could bury me."

Day 7 was the longest day in court as the jury walked out just after 5:15 p.m.