MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a couple from Valley Stream was charged with harassment, criminal tampering and criminal mischief for allegedly throwing feces and shooting a pellet gun, causing a neighbor to live in fear for years.
John McEneaney, 57, of Valley Stream, was arrested today on charges of criminal mischief in the fourth degree (an A misdemeanor) and harassment in the first degree (a B misdemeanor). The defendant faces a maximum of one year in jail if convicted of the top count.
Mindy Canarick, 53, of Valley Stream, was arrested today on charges of criminal tampering in the third degree (a B misdemeanor). The defendant faces a maximum of three months in jail if convicted.
The defendants were arraigned before Judge Erica Prager and released on their own recognizance. They are due back in court on October 9. At prosecutors’ request an order of protection was issued by the judge.
“The sign on Jennifer McLeggan’s door broke my heart and rallied a community to her aid. It also moved my office to investigate this matter because nobody should have to live in fear of harassment from their neighbors. Today, following a comprehensive review, investigators from my office arrested and charged these defendants because of a pattern of intolerable conduct that cannot be left unchecked. I hope that this prosecution, and the order of protection issued by Judge Prager today, afford Ms. McLeggan and her daughter the security they deserve, and I am grateful to the advocates and leaders who collaborated with our office throughout this investigation.”
DA Singas said the victim, a single mother of a two-year-old child, moved into her Valley Stream home while pregnant in April 2017 and immediately began to be harassed, allegedly by the defendants. The alleged harassment, which included shooting pellet guns across her yard and throwing feces onto her lawn continued until July 2020.
John McEneaney allegedly, as a form of harassment to annoy or alarm the victim, shot pellet guns repeatedly across the victim’s lawn, from April 2017 until July 2020, striking a nearby street sign at least 20 times. Ms. McLeggan said that she has been fearful that she or her young daughter would be hit by a pellet, at least four of which were found on her lawn.
Additionally, after returning home from an overnight shift as a registered nurse on May 30, 2019, the victim allegedly observed Mindy Canarick, John McEneaney’s girlfriend, drop dog feces onto her property.
The NCDA would like to thank Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and Detective Sergeant Richard Menzies for their assistance on this case.
Assistant District Attorney Heather Kalachman of DA Singas’ Public Corruption Bureau is prosecuting this case. Defendant McEneaney is represented by 18-b. Defendant Canarick is represented by Legal Aid.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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