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FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023
EXHIBIT B
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023
CHRYSTLER STORTZ
STATE OF NEW YORK
SUPREME COURT : COUNTY OF ERIE
----------------------------------------------------
N.J.S., an Infant, by and through her
Parent and Natural Guardian,
MICHELE SARDO and
MICHELE SARDO, Individually,
Plaintiffs,
-vs-
WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT,
WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION and
WEST SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL,
Defendants.
----------------------------------------------------
WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT,
WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION and
WEST SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL,
Third-Party Plaintiffs,
-vs-
CHRYSTLER LEE STORTZ,
MICHAEL JAMES STORTZ,
BARBARA ANNE STORTZ and
HEATHER A. THIBEAULT
a/k/a HEATHER A. STORTZ,
Third-Party Defendants.
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023
2
Examination Before Trial of
CHRYSTLER STORTZ, Third-Party Defendant, taken pursuant to
Notice under Article 31 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules,
in the law offices of LIPSITZ GREEN SCIME CAMBRIA LLP, 42
Delaware Avenue, Suite 120, Buffalo, New York, taken on May
30, 2023, commencing at 1:54 P.M., before VALERIE A. ROSATI,
Notary Public.
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3
1 INDEX TO WITNESSES
2
3
4 Witness: CHRYSTLER STORTZ Page
5 Examination By:
6 Mr. Dingeldey 6
7 Mr. Lent 39
8 Mr. Nicastro 44
9 Mr. Lent 53
10 Mr. Nicastro 54
11 Mr. Dingeldey 56
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
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1 A P P E A R A N C E S:
2 C A N T O R, W O L F F, N I C A S T R O & H A L L L L C ,
B y J O S E P H L . N I C A S T R O, E S Q . ,
3 2 1 4 0 M a i n P l a c e T o w e r,
3 5 0 M a i n S t r e e t,
4 B u f f a l o, N e w Y o r k 1 4 2 0 2,
A p p e a r i n g f o r t h e P l a i n t i f f s.
5
B A X T E R & S M I T H, P . C . ,
6 By LOUIS B. DINGELDEY JR., ESQ.,
1 8 2 D w y e r S t r e e t,
7 W e s t S e n e c a, N e w Y o r k 1 4 2 2 4,
Appearing for Defendants and
8 T h i r d- P a r t y P l a i n t i f f s.
9 LIPSITZ GREEN SCIME CAMBRIA LLP,
B y G R E G O R Y P . K R U L L, E S Q . ,
10 4 2 D e l a w a r e A v e n u e,
Suite 120,
11 B u f f a l o, N e w Y o r k 1 4 2 0 2- 3 9 2 4,
A p p e a r i n g f o r T h i r d- P a r t y D e f e n d a n t
12 C h r y s t l e r L e e S t o r z.
13 M A R S H A L L D E N N E H E Y W A R N E R C O L E M A N & G O G G I N, P . C . ,
B y T H O M A S M . L E N T, E S Q . ,
14 7 1 7 S t a t e S t r e e t,
Suite 701,
15 E r i e, P e n n s y l v a n i a 1 6 5 0 1,
A p p e a r i n g f o r T h i r d- P a r t y D e f e n d a n t
16 Heather A. Thibeault a/k/a
H e a t h e r A . S t o r t z.
17
18
19 (The following stipulations were entered
20 i n t o b y a l l p a r t i e s. )
21 It is hereby stipulated by and between counsel
22 for the respective parties that the oath of the
23 R e f e r e e i s w a i v e d, t h a t f i l i n g a n d c e r t i f i c a t i o n
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1 o f t h e t r a n s c r i p t a r e w a i v e d, a n d t h a t a l l
2 o b j e c t i o n s, e x c e p t a s t o t h e f o r m o f t h e
3 q u e s t i o n s, a r e r e s e r v e d u n t i l t h e t i m e o f t r i a l.
4
5 M R . K R U L L: I ' l l r e a d a n d s i g n. If we don't, you
6 k n o w, p r o v i d e i t w i t h i n s i x t y d a y s t h e n i t ' s
7 d e e m e d a c c e p t e d.
8
9 C H R Y S T L E R S T O R T Z,
10 5 6 S t e n z i l S t r e e t, N o r t h T o n a w a n d a, N e w Y o r k 1 4 1 2 0,
11 a f t e r b e i n g d u l y c a l l e d a n d s w o r n,
12 t e s t i f i e d a s f o l l o w s:
13
14 M R . K R U L L: B e f o r e w e s t a r t, I j u s t w a n t t o p u t o n
15 t h e r e c o r d. I ' m r e p r e s e n t i n g T h i r d- P a r t y
16 D e f e n d a n t C h r y s t l e r S t o r t z, a n d I ' v e s p o k e n w i t h
17 counsel last week about the extent to which Mr.
18 Stortz can or can't answer questions relative to
19 s p e c i f i c e v e n t s a l l e g ed i n t h e s u i t. And I've
20 advised counsel beforehand that relative to the
21 s p e c i f i c s o f t h e i n c i d e n t, h e h a s b e e n a d v i s e d t o
22 p l e a d t h e F i f t h a g a i n s t s e l f- i n c r i m i n a t i o n i n
23 reference to potential federal liability criminal
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1 s t a t u t es .
2 I w i l l s a y t h a t t h e T h i r d- P a r t y C o m p l a i n t
3 was answered where various allegations were
4 responded to this way. A n d t h e a n s w e r, p a r a g r a p h
5 t w o , q u o t e, w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e a l l e g a t i o n s
6 n u m b e r e d e i g h t a n d n i n e, D e f e n d a n t a d m i t s t h a t o n
7 July 22, 2019 he pled guilty to engaging in
8 sexual intercourse and oral sexual conduct with
9 N.J.S. on May 10, 2019 without her consent as set
10 forth in Penal Law Section 130 point 20, sub 1
11 and 2.
12 Defendant denies the remainder of the
13 allegations if the same call for legal
14 c o n c l u s i o n s. To the extent these allegations do
15 n o t c a l l f o r a l e g a l c o n c l u s i o n, D e f e n d a n t d e n i e s
16 k n o w l e d g e o r i n f o r m a t i o n a s t o s a m e, c l o s e q u o t e.
17 S o w i t h t h a t, w e ' l l a d v i s e M r . S t o r t z o n a I
18 g u e s s q u e s t i o n- b y - q u e s t i o n b a s i s.
19
20 E X A M I N A T I O N B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
21
22 Q. O k a y. G o o d a f t e r n o o n. Do you prefer I call you
23 C h r y s t l e r o r M r . S t o r t z?
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1 A. M r . S t o r t z i s f i n e.
2 Q. O k a y. M r . S t o r t z, w e m e t b r i e f l y o f f t h e r e c o r d.
3 M y n a m e i s L o u D i n g e l d e y. I'm the attorney for
4 t h e W e s t S e n e c a C e n t r a l S c h o o l D i s t r i c t, a n d I ' m
5 here to ask you some questions about some
6 allegations that have been made about conduct
7 f r o m A p r i l a n d M a y o f 2 0 1 9, a s w e l l a s a l i t t l e
8 bit of background information and some of the
9 criminal related matters that may have followed
10 t h e s e i n c i d e n t s. O k a y?
11 A. O k a y.
12 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: Let me just -- I'm going to ask the
13 w i t n e s s f o r h i s d a t e o f b i r t h. We can redact it
14 so that the last two digits of the year are
15 s h o w n.
16 So I'm not going to have your whole date
17 w r i t t e n d o w n, b u t y o u c a n t e l l m e .
18 T H E W I T N E S S: ( R e d a c t e d) 2 0 0 2.
19 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
20 Q. O k a y. Y o u k n o w w h a t, b e f o r e w e g e t s t a r te d , I
21 s h o u l d j u s t k i n d o f g o o v e r s o m e g r o u n d r u l e s.
22 B e c a u s e o u r c o n v e r s a t i o n i s b e i n g r e c o r d e d, j u s t
23 do your best -- and you're off to a fine start --
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1 t o l e t m e f i n i s h b e f o r e y o u a n s w e r. That way you
2 g e t t o h e a r t h e w h o l e q u e s t i o n. And do your best
3 to keep your voice up and give a yes or a no or
4 a n e x p l a n a t i o n. O k a y?
5 A. (Indicating yes.)
6 Q. Is that a yes?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. A l l r i g h t. And if you don't understand any of my
9 q u e s t i o ns o r y o u c a n ' t h e a r m e , I ' m n o t b e i n g
10 l o u d e n o u g h, t h e r e' s a f a n , s o m e o n e i s c o u g hi n g ,
11 let me know and I'll repeat or rephrase the
12 question for you. O k a y?
13 A. U n d e r s t o o d.
14 Q. We may jump around a little bit. If we do that
15 and you become uncertain as to the time frame of
16 t h e q u e s t i o n, w h e t h e r I m e a n t o d a y o r I m e a n f o u r
17 y e a r s a g o , l e t m e k n o w a n d I ' l l c l a r i f y. O k a y?
18 A. U n d e r s t o o d.
19 Q. A n d , l a s t l y, t r y t o b e p a t i e n t. Let me finish
20 before you answer and I'll try to give you the
21 s a m e c o u r t e s y. That way you get to hear the
22 w h o l e q u e s t i o n a n d w e ' r e n o t t a l ki n g o v e r e a c h
23 o t h e r, a n d t h e c o u r t r e p o r t e r c a n t a k e a n i c e,
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1 clean and accurate transcription of our
2 d i s c u s s i o n. O k a y?
3 A. O k a y.
4 Q. A l l r i g h t. You gave an address of 56 Stenzil
5 S t r e e t i n N o r t h T o n a w a n d a. Is that an apartment
6 o r a h o u s e?
7 A. H o u s e.
8 Q. A n d d o y o u o w n o r r e n t?
9 A. R e n t.
10 Q. H o w l o n g h a v e y o u l i v e d t h e r e?
11 A. T h r e e m o n t h s.
12 Q. D o y o u l i v e w i t h a n y o n e?
13 A. M y m o t h e r a n d s i s t e r.
14 Q. I s y o u r m o t h e r H e a t h e r T h i b e a u l t?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. A n d w h o i s y o u r s i s t e r?
17 A. H e i d i P e t e r s o n.
18 M R . N I C A S T R O: W h a t w a s t h a t n a m e? I c o u l d n' t h e a r.
19 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: P e t e r s o n. H e i d i P e t e r s o n.
20 M R . N I C A S T R O: Gotcha.
21 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
22 Q. B a c k i n a p p r o x i m a t e l y A p r i l a n d M a y o f 2 0 1 9,
23 w h e r e d i d y o u l i v e?
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1 A. 2 4 B a r n s d a l e A v e n u e.
2 Q. T h a t' s i n W e s t S e n e c a?
3 A. Yes.
4 Q. T h a t' s 1 4 2 2 4?
5 A. Yes.
6 Q. O k a y. A n d i s t h a t y o u r f a t h e r a n d s t e pm o t h e r' s
7 h o u s e?
8 A. Yes.
9 Q. O k a y. B a c k i n - - b a s e d u p o n y o u r d a t e o f b i r t h,
10 you're no longer -- you're over eighteen now?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. B a c k i n M a y o f 2 0 1 9, h o w o l d w e r e y o u ?
13 A. S e v e n t e e n.
14 Q. A n d a t t h a t t i m e, y o u r p a r e n t s w e r e d i v o r c e d?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. Did they share custody of you? Did one of them
17 h a v e s o l e c u s t o d y? How did that work if you
18 k n o w?
19 A. I t w a s j o i n t c u s t o d y.
20 Q. But you lived with your dad?
21 A. C o r r e c t.
22 Q. O k a y. D i d y o u r m o m h a v e v i s i t a t i o n? Would you
23 s e e m o m e v e r y o t h e r w e e k o r s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h a t?
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1 A. S a w m y m o m o n c e a w e e k.
2 Q. O k a y. A n d i n A p r i l - - i n s a y A p r i l o f 2 0 1 9, y o u
3 w e r e a t W e s t S e n e c a W e s t H i g h S c h o o l?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. W a s t h a t y o u r f i r s t y e a r a t W e s t S e n e c a W e s t?
6 A. No.
7 Q. Where did you go to school before that -- when
8 d i d y o u f i r s t c o m e t o W e s t S e n e c a W e s t?
9 A. I m o v e d t o W e s t S e n e c a i n t h i r d g r a d e.
10 Q. O k a y. A n d y o u a t t e n d e d W e s t S e n e c a s c h o o ls f r o m
11 third grade right through approximately May of
12 2 0 1 9?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. A n d i n M a y o f 2 0 1 9, w e r e y o u a j u n i o r o r a
15 s e n i o r?
16 A. I w o u l d b e a j u n i o r.
17 Q. D i d y o u g r a d u a t e f r o m W e s t S e n e c a W e s t?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q. Did you get home instruction for any portion of
20 y o u r l a s t y e a r a n d a h a l f, o r n o ?
21 A. Yes. S e n i o r y e a r.
22 Q. O k a y. A n y p o s t h i g h s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n?
23 A. No.
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1 Q. Do you currently have a job?
2 A. Yes.
3 Q. W h e r e d o y o u w o r k?
4 A. T h e n a m e i s V i s h a y, V - I - S - H - A - Y . And it's like
5 a -- make resistors for electronics and for
6 h e a l t h c a r e a n d p h o n e s.
7 Q. A n y m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e?
8 A. No.
9 Q. A n y c r i m i n a l c o n v i c t i o n, o t h e r t h a n r e l a t e d t o
10 w h a t y o u r a t t o r n e y d e s c r i b e d b e f o r e?
11 A. No.
12 Q. A n d r e l a t i n g t o t h e e v e n ts o f A p r i l a n d M a y o f
13 2 0 1 9, d o y o u h a v e a n y c r i m i n a l c o n v i c t i o n s?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. Y o u p l e d g u i l t y t o s o m e c h a r g e - - c h a r g e s?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. D o y o u k n o w w h a t t h o s e c h a r g es w e r e?
18 A. N o t o f f t h e t o p o f m y h e a d.
19 Q. O k a y.
20 M R . K R U L L: J u s t f o r t h e r e c o r d, a s I p u t o n t h e
21 r e c o r d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g, t h o s e w e r e t h e c h a r g es
22 that he pled guilty to.
23 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: G r e g, d o y o u k n o w i f i t w a s o n e c o u n t
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1 or two?
2 M R . K R U L L: W e l l, I t h i n k t h e r e w e r e t w o c h a r g es ,
3 yes. Sections 1 and 2.
4 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: O k a y. Y o u d i d s a y t h a t. I
5 a p p r e c i a t e t h e c l a r i f i c a t i o n.
6 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
7 Q. A l l r i g h t. M r . S t o r t z, w e ' r e g o i n g t o a s k y o u
8 eventually -- and I understand you may take the
9 Fifth -- about some incidents or allegations
10 involving N.J.S. in approximately the time frame
11 o f A p r i l o r M a y o f 2 0 1 9.
12 B e f o r e t h a t p e r i o d o f t i m e, s o i n y o u r p r i o r
13 h i g h s c h o o l c a r e e r, d i d y o u h a v e a d i s c i p l i n a r y
14 h i s t o r y a t W e s t S e n e c a?
15 A. No.
16 Q. A n d y o u m a y h a v e - - I d o n ' t m e a n - - y o u k n o w, y o u
17 m a y h a v e h a d a c l a s sr o o m d e t e n t i o n o r t w o , b u t
18 a n y t h i n g t h a t r e s u l te d i n a n y k i n d o f s u s p e n s i o n s
19 o r h e a r i n g s o r a n y t h i n g l i k e t h a t?
20 A. No.
21 Q. O k a y. Were you ever on any kind of disciplinary
22 probation or had you ever been involved in any --
23 l e t m e r e p h r a s e.
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1 Were you ever on any disciplinary probation
2 at all?
3 A. No.
4 Q. Had you ever been punished for any type of
5 a s s a u l t o f a n y k i n d i n s c h o o l?
6 A. D u r i n g h i g h s c h o o l?
7 Q. Yes.
8 A. No.
9 Q. W h a t a b o u t a n y t y p e o f t h r e a ts o r b u l l y i n g, a n y
10 h i s t o r y o f t h a t w h e r e y o u w e r e p u n i s he d i n h i g h
11 s c h o o l?
12 A. No.
13 Q. Or did you have to see any authority figure like
14 the vice principal about any allegations of a
15 threat or bullying or any type of assault before
16 t h e s e a l l e g e d i n c i d e n t s i n A p r i l a n d M a y o f 2 0 1 9?
17 A. No.
18 Q. At some point you became acquainted with a person
19 named N.J.S.?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. How did you first come to know her or meet her?
22 M R . K R U L L: I'm going to direct him not to answer and
23 t a k e t h e F i f t h o n t h a t q u e s t i o n.
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1 So why don't you say to the court reporter
2 that you're going to assert the Fifth on the
3 a d v i c e o f c o u n s e l.
4 T H E W I T N E S S: I'm going to assert on the advice of
5 c o u n s e l a n d p l e a d t h e F i f t h.
6 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
7 Q. W e r e y o u i n t r o d u c e d t o h e r b y f r i e n d s?
8 M R . K R U L L: Y o u c a n a n s w e r.
9 T H E W I T N E S S: Y e a h.
10 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
11 Q. Was your first communication with her in person
12 o r v i a e l e c t r o n i c m e a n s?
13 M R . K R U L L: D i r e c t h i m n o t t o a n s w e r. Assert the
14 F i f t h.
15 T H E W I T N E S S: D i r e c t n o t t o a n s w e r. P l e a d t h e F i f t h.
16 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
17 Q. D o y o u k n o w w h e n y o u f i r s t m e t o r c o m m u n i c a t ed
18 with her?
19 M R . K R U L L: F i f t h.
20 T H E W I T N E S S: P l e a d t h e F i f t h.
21 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
22 Q. And if I'm understanding you, in April and May of
23 2 0 1 9 y o u w e r e a j u n i o r.
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1 A. Yes.
2 Q. W a s N . J . S . t o y o u r k n o w l e d g e a f r e s h m a n, N . J . S . ?
3 A. I believe so, yes.
4 Q. W e r e y o u i n a n y c l a s s es w i t h h e r ?
5 A. No.
6 Q. D i d y o u h a v e a n y l u n c h p e r i o ds w i t h h e r ?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. W a s i t e v e r y d a y o r c e r t a i n d a y s?
9 A. C e r t a i n d a y s.
10 Q. P r i o r t o A p r i l o f 2 0 1 9, h a d y o u e v e r s a t w i t h h e r
11 d u r i n g l u n c h?
12 A. Y e a h.
13 Q. D i d y o u h a v e c o m m o n f r i e n d s?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. D o y o u r e m e m b e r a n y o f t h e i r n a m e s?
16 A. N o t d i r e c t l y, n o .
17 Q. W h e n y o u s a t w i t h h e r i n l u n c h, d i d y o u e v e r
18 speak to her? A g a i n, p r i o r t o A p r i l o f 2 0 1 9.
19 A. Y e a h.
20 Q. Do you remember what you said to her -- or, what
21 the gist of the conversation was?
22 A. G i s t o f t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n w a s u s u a l l y j o k e s,
23 l i g h th e a r t e d o n e s, n o t h i n g o f f e n s i v e i n n a t u r e.
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1 Q. Did there come a time that you were -- I'll use
2 t h e t e r m t a l ki n g t o N . J . S . ?
3 M R . K R U L L: I'm going to object to form and ask you
4 to clarify that question as to whether I'm going
5 t o a l l o w h i m t o a n s w e r.
6 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
7 Q. D i d t h e r e c o m e a t i m e w h e n y o u w e r e s t a r ti n g t o
8 communicate regularly with N.J.S.?
9 M R . K R U L L: O b j e c t i o n. Don't answer in that form
10 because communication is subject to various
11 d e f i n i t i o ns .
12 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
13 Q. Did there come a time you were dating N.J.S.?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. Do you know about what period of time that was?
16 A. L i k e M a r c h, m a y b e a m o n t h b e f o r e.
17 Q. 2 0 1 9?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q. O k a y. And did you ever have a date or meet up
20 w i t h h e r o u t s i d e o f s c h o o l?
21 A. No.
22 Q. D i d y o u e v e r c a l l h e r o n t h e p h o n e?
23 M R . K R U L L: O b j e c t i o n. D o n ' t a n s w e r t h a t. Take the
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1 F i f t h.
2 T H E W I T N E S S: P l e a d t h e F i f t h.
3 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
4 Q. D i d y o u h a v e c o m m u n i c a t i o ns w i t h h e r b y o t h e r
5 e l e c t r o n i c m e a n s s u c h a s t e x t o r I n s t a g r a m?
6 M R . K R U L L: P l e a d t h e F i f t h.
7 T H E W I T N E S S: P l e a d t h e F i f t h.
8 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
9 Q. O k a y. Did there come a time you met up with her
10 i n p e r s o n w i t h i n s c h o o l i n p e r s o n?
11 A. C o u l d y o u r e p e a t t h e q u e s t i o n?
12 Q. S u r e. Did there come a time -- and I understand
13 y o u w e r e d a t i n g b u t y o u d i d n' t m e e t u p o u t s i d e o f
14 s c h o o l. Did there come a time you met up inside
15 s c h o o l t o s p e n d t i m e t o g e t h e r?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. O k a y. Do you recall when that first was?
18 A. I t h i n k i t w a s l a t e M a r c h.
19 Q. S o m e w h e r e i n t h a t v i c i n i t y?
20 A. Y e a h.
21 Q. W e ' r e t a l k i n g 2 0 1 9?
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. Was anyone else present when you first met up to
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1 s p e n d t i m e t o g e t h e r a t s c h o o l?
2 A. Yes.
3 Q. W h o w a s t h e r e?
4 A. One of her sisters and some other schoolmates
5 t h a t w e r e p r e s e n t a t t h e t i m e.
6 Q. Was this during school hours of after school
7 h o u r s?
8 A. A f t e r s c h o o l h o u r s.
9 Q. Do you know about what time you met up?
10 A. I'm trying to remember when school officially
11 e n d e d, b u t i t w a s a r o u n d w h e r e t h e b u s e s w e r e
12 l e a v i n g.
13 Q. S h o r t l y a f t e r b u s e s l e f t?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. A n d t h i s w a s k i n d o f a g r o u p m e e t- u p w i t h s o m e
16 s c h o o l m a t e s, N . J . S . a n d h e r s i s t e r?
17 A. Yes.
18 Q. A t a n y t i m e d u r i n g t h a t e n c o u n t e r, d i d y o u a n d
19 N.J.S. pair off at all?
20 A. No.
21 Q. D u r i n g t h a t e n c o u n t e r, w a s t h e r e a n y p h y s i c a l
22 a f f e c ti o n , h u g g i n g, k i s s i n g, a n y o t h e r t o u c h i n g?
23 A. No.
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1 Q. H o w d i d t h a t m e e t- u p e n d ?
2 A. W e h a d s a i d g o o db y e a n d t o o k o u r s e p a r a t e
3 a f t e r- s c h o o l b u s e s b a c k h o m e.
4 Q. Do you recall the times of the buses back in
5 2 0 1 9? W e r e t h e r e t w o b u s e s, t h r e e b u s e s?
6 A. I w a n t t o s a y t h e r e w a s t h r e e, m a y b e f o u r.
7 Q. D o y o u r e m e m b e r a n y o f t h e t i m e s? Even if it's
8 a p p r o x i m a t i o n s.
9 A. I w o u l d g u e s s a r o u n d m a y b e t w o - f o r t y.
10 Q. T h a t' s o n e o f t h e l a t e r b u s e s?
11 A. Y e a h.
12 Q. I s t h a t t y p i c a l l y t h e b u s y o u w o u l d t a k e?
13 A. T h e y a l l c a m e a r o u n d t h e s a m e t i m e. It's just
14 d i f f e r e n t b u s e s t o o k d i f f e r e n t r o u t e s.
15 Q. O k a y. Were you and N.J.S. on the same bus or
16 d i f f e r e n t b u s e s?
17 A. D i f f e r e n t.
18 Q. O k a y. A f t e r t h a t f i r s t m e e ti n g i n a p p r o x i m a t e l y
19 l a t e M a r c h o f 2 0 1 9, d i d t h e r e c o m e a t i m e t h a t
20 you physically met up with N.J.S. at school to
21 s p e n d a n y a m o u n t o f t i m e t o g e t h e r?
22 M R . K R U L L: O b j e c t t o t h e f o r m. You can answer to
23 the extent that it is not an event that led to
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1 what you pled guilty to.
2 T H E W I T N E S S: No.
3 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
4 Q. O k a y. How many times in total did you meet up
5 with N.J.S. to spend any amount of time together
6 a t s c h o o l?
7 A. O n l y o n c e, n o t i n c l u d i n g t h e i n c i d e n t.
8 Q. O k a y. That one time you described with her
9 sister present and some other schoolmates whose
10 n a m e s y o u d o n ' t r e c a l l?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. O k a y. So you met up that one time and then
13 a p p a r e n t l y y o u m e t a g a i n f o r a n o t h e r t i m e, b u t
14 t h a t' s t h e s u b j e c t o f y o u r g u i l t y p l e a?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. O k a y. Did you have any type of text or e-mail
17 communications between the first meeting and then
18 t h e l a t e r m e e t i n g?
19 M R . K R U L L: O b j e c t i o n. D o n ' t a n s w e r t h a t. Plead the
20 F i f t h.
21 T H E W I T N E S S: P l e a d t h e F i f t h.
22 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
23 Q. O k a y. During the time you were dating N.J.S. up
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1 to the time of the second meeting for which
2 y o u ' r e t a k i n g t h e F i f t h, h a d y o u e v e r a d v i s e d
3 anyone at school -- any adults at school about
4 your relationship with N.J.S.?
5 M R . K R U L L: Y o u c a n a n s w e r.
6 T H E W I T N E S S: No.
7 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
8 Q. O k a y. At any time had you had any communications
9 with N.J.S.'s parents prior to the event for
10 w h i c h y o u ' r e t a k i n g t h e F i f t h?
11 A. No. The only other relative that had known that
12 m e a n d h e r w e r e t a l k i n g w a s h e r s i s t e r.
13 Q. H e r s i s t e r w a s a w a r e y o u w e r e d a t i n g?
14 A. N o , n o t d a t i n g.
15 Q. O k a y. She was aware that you spent time together
16 o n a t l e a s t t h a t o n e o c c a s i o n?
17 A. Yes.
18 Q. D i d y o u - - w e r e y o u f a m i l i a r w i t h h e r s i s t e r?
19 A. I had known her, yes.
20 Q. A n y c l a s s e s w i t h h e r s i s t e r?
21 A. N o , n o t t h a t I r e m e m b e r.
22 Q. W h a t g r a d e w a s h e r s i s t e r i n i f y o u r e c a l l?
23 A. A l s o a j u n i o r.
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1 Q. S o s h e w a s i n y o u r g r a d e, b u t y o u w e r e i n
2 d i f f e r e n t c l a s s e s?
3 A. Y e a h.
4 Q. Were your parents aware that you were dating
5 N.J.S.?
6 A. No.
7 Q. At some point were you made aware that N.J.S.
8 made a criminal complaint against you?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. A n d i s i t t h o s e a l l e g a t i o ns , t h a t' s w h a t y o u
11 eventually pled guilty to and for which you're
12 t a k i n g t h e F i f t h t o d a y?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. O k a y. Were you aware if another female made
15 criminal charges against you?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. D o y o u k n o w h e r n a m e? It should probably be
18 r e d a c t e d t o t h e i n i t i a l s.
19 A. I think it's J.W. I f o r g e t t h e l a s t n a m e.
20 Q. O k a y. Did your guilty plea involve the claims
21 made by J.W.?
22 A. Yes.
23 M R . N I C A S T R O: H o w d o y o u p r o n o u n c e t h a t n a m e?
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1 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: J.W. H e j u s t g a v e t h e i n i t i a l. He
2 d o e s n' t k n o w h e r l a s t n a m e.
3 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
4 Q. Were you arrested regarding the charges by J.W.
5 prior to the allegations made by N.J.S.?
6 A. Yes.
7 Q. Were your parents notified when you were
8 a r r e s t e d?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. W o u l d t h a t i n c l u d e y o u r f a t h e r, y o u r s t e p m o t h e r
11 a n d y o u r m o t h e r?
12 M R . L E N T: O b j e c t t o t h e f o r m.
13 T H E W I T N E S S: J u s t m y f a t h e r k n e w.
14 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
15 Q. Did he have to bail you out?
16 A. No.
17 Q. Y o u w e r e r e l e a s e d o n y o u r o w n r e c o g n i z a n c e?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q. Did your mother ever come to learn about the
20 charge by J.W.?
21 M R . L E N T: O b j e c t t o t h e f o r m.
22 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
23 Q. Did you ever -- you or your father in your
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1 presence ever tell her about it?
2 A. No.
3 Q. At that time your mom had shared custody with
4 you -- of you?
5 A. Yes.
6 Q. O k a y. W e r e a l l t h e c h a r g es f r o m J . W . a n d N . J . S .
7 r e s o l v e d w i t h o n e p r o c e e d i n g?
8 A. Yes.
9 Q. And that was the guilty plea your attorney
10 d e s c r i b e d b e f o r e?
11 A. Yes.
12 Q. D o y o u r e c a l l w h a t, i f a n y t h i n g, y o u r p u n i s h m e n t
13 w a s c r i m i n a l l y f r o m t h a t g u i l t y p l e a?
14 M R . K R U L L: O b j e c t i o n. D o n ' t a n s w e r t h a t. The
15 charges as I think you know were resolved through
16 a y o u t h f u l o f f e n d e r r e s o l u t i o n.
17 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: All of them or just the first one?
18 M R . K R U L L: Everything that he pled to. And as of
19 t h i s p o i n t, t h e C o u r t h a s n o t r e l e a s e d t h o s e
20 d o c u m e n t s, s o I ' m g o i n g t o , y o u k n o w, a d v i s e h i m
21 n o t t o a n s w e r t h o s e q u e s t i o n s o n t h a t b a s i s.
22 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: A n d I ' l l n o t e f o r t h e r e c o r d, w e d o
23 h a v e a m o t i o n p e n d i n g. It's been pending for
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1 s e v e r a l w e e k s. W e d o n o t h a v e a r e t u r n d a t e, b u t
2 w e d i d m o v e t o r e s o l v e t h a t. I did not want to
3 p u t o f f t o d a y' s p r o c e e d i n g s. As per the
4 directive I thought was -- to me it was to move
5 f o r w a r d w i t h t h e s e e x a m i n a t i o n s t o d a y. So
6 o b v i o u s l y w e r e s e r v e a l l o u r r i g h t s.
7 M R . K R U L L: I will add, it is my understanding that
8 there were court issues with the, with the pleas
9 a n d h o w t h e y w e r e d e a l t w i t h b y t h e C o u r t, b u t
10 u l t i m a t e l y b o t h w e r e y o u t h f u l o f f e n d e r s t a t u s.
11 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: O k a y. T h a n k y o u f o r c l a r i f y i n g.
12 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y:
13 Q. W h e n y o u m a d e y o u r g u i l t y p l e a, d i d y o u m a k e a n y
14 type of allocuti
Preview
FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 EXHIBIT B FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 CHRYSTLER STORTZ STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT : COUNTY OF ERIE ---------------------------------------------------- N.J.S., an Infant, by and through her Parent and Natural Guardian, MICHELE SARDO and MICHELE SARDO, Individually, Plaintiffs, -vs- WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION and WEST SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, Defendants. ---------------------------------------------------- WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, WEST SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION and WEST SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, Third-Party Plaintiffs, -vs- CHRYSTLER LEE STORTZ, MICHAEL JAMES STORTZ, BARBARA ANNE STORTZ and HEATHER A. THIBEAULT a/k/a HEATHER A. STORTZ, Third-Party Defendants. FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 2 Examination Before Trial of CHRYSTLER STORTZ, Third-Party Defendant, taken pursuant to Notice under Article 31 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules, in the law offices of LIPSITZ GREEN SCIME CAMBRIA LLP, 42 Delaware Avenue, Suite 120, Buffalo, New York, taken on May 30, 2023, commencing at 1:54 P.M., before VALERIE A. ROSATI, Notary Public. Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 3 1 INDEX TO WITNESSES 2 3 4 Witness: CHRYSTLER STORTZ Page 5 Examination By: 6 Mr. Dingeldey 6 7 Mr. Lent 39 8 Mr. Nicastro 44 9 Mr. Lent 53 10 Mr. Nicastro 54 11 Mr. Dingeldey 56 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 4 1 A P P E A R A N C E S: 2 C A N T O R, W O L F F, N I C A S T R O & H A L L L L C , B y J O S E P H L . N I C A S T R O, E S Q . , 3 2 1 4 0 M a i n P l a c e T o w e r, 3 5 0 M a i n S t r e e t, 4 B u f f a l o, N e w Y o r k 1 4 2 0 2, A p p e a r i n g f o r t h e P l a i n t i f f s. 5 B A X T E R & S M I T H, P . C . , 6 By LOUIS B. DINGELDEY JR., ESQ., 1 8 2 D w y e r S t r e e t, 7 W e s t S e n e c a, N e w Y o r k 1 4 2 2 4, Appearing for Defendants and 8 T h i r d- P a r t y P l a i n t i f f s. 9 LIPSITZ GREEN SCIME CAMBRIA LLP, B y G R E G O R Y P . K R U L L, E S Q . , 10 4 2 D e l a w a r e A v e n u e, Suite 120, 11 B u f f a l o, N e w Y o r k 1 4 2 0 2- 3 9 2 4, A p p e a r i n g f o r T h i r d- P a r t y D e f e n d a n t 12 C h r y s t l e r L e e S t o r z. 13 M A R S H A L L D E N N E H E Y W A R N E R C O L E M A N & G O G G I N, P . C . , B y T H O M A S M . L E N T, E S Q . , 14 7 1 7 S t a t e S t r e e t, Suite 701, 15 E r i e, P e n n s y l v a n i a 1 6 5 0 1, A p p e a r i n g f o r T h i r d- P a r t y D e f e n d a n t 16 Heather A. Thibeault a/k/a H e a t h e r A . S t o r t z. 17 18 19 (The following stipulations were entered 20 i n t o b y a l l p a r t i e s. ) 21 It is hereby stipulated by and between counsel 22 for the respective parties that the oath of the 23 R e f e r e e i s w a i v e d, t h a t f i l i n g a n d c e r t i f i c a t i o n Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 5 1 o f t h e t r a n s c r i p t a r e w a i v e d, a n d t h a t a l l 2 o b j e c t i o n s, e x c e p t a s t o t h e f o r m o f t h e 3 q u e s t i o n s, a r e r e s e r v e d u n t i l t h e t i m e o f t r i a l. 4 5 M R . K R U L L: I ' l l r e a d a n d s i g n. If we don't, you 6 k n o w, p r o v i d e i t w i t h i n s i x t y d a y s t h e n i t ' s 7 d e e m e d a c c e p t e d. 8 9 C H R Y S T L E R S T O R T Z, 10 5 6 S t e n z i l S t r e e t, N o r t h T o n a w a n d a, N e w Y o r k 1 4 1 2 0, 11 a f t e r b e i n g d u l y c a l l e d a n d s w o r n, 12 t e s t i f i e d a s f o l l o w s: 13 14 M R . K R U L L: B e f o r e w e s t a r t, I j u s t w a n t t o p u t o n 15 t h e r e c o r d. I ' m r e p r e s e n t i n g T h i r d- P a r t y 16 D e f e n d a n t C h r y s t l e r S t o r t z, a n d I ' v e s p o k e n w i t h 17 counsel last week about the extent to which Mr. 18 Stortz can or can't answer questions relative to 19 s p e c i f i c e v e n t s a l l e g ed i n t h e s u i t. And I've 20 advised counsel beforehand that relative to the 21 s p e c i f i c s o f t h e i n c i d e n t, h e h a s b e e n a d v i s e d t o 22 p l e a d t h e F i f t h a g a i n s t s e l f- i n c r i m i n a t i o n i n 23 reference to potential federal liability criminal Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 6 1 s t a t u t es . 2 I w i l l s a y t h a t t h e T h i r d- P a r t y C o m p l a i n t 3 was answered where various allegations were 4 responded to this way. A n d t h e a n s w e r, p a r a g r a p h 5 t w o , q u o t e, w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e a l l e g a t i o n s 6 n u m b e r e d e i g h t a n d n i n e, D e f e n d a n t a d m i t s t h a t o n 7 July 22, 2019 he pled guilty to engaging in 8 sexual intercourse and oral sexual conduct with 9 N.J.S. on May 10, 2019 without her consent as set 10 forth in Penal Law Section 130 point 20, sub 1 11 and 2. 12 Defendant denies the remainder of the 13 allegations if the same call for legal 14 c o n c l u s i o n s. To the extent these allegations do 15 n o t c a l l f o r a l e g a l c o n c l u s i o n, D e f e n d a n t d e n i e s 16 k n o w l e d g e o r i n f o r m a t i o n a s t o s a m e, c l o s e q u o t e. 17 S o w i t h t h a t, w e ' l l a d v i s e M r . S t o r t z o n a I 18 g u e s s q u e s t i o n- b y - q u e s t i o n b a s i s. 19 20 E X A M I N A T I O N B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 21 22 Q. O k a y. G o o d a f t e r n o o n. Do you prefer I call you 23 C h r y s t l e r o r M r . S t o r t z? Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 7 1 A. M r . S t o r t z i s f i n e. 2 Q. O k a y. M r . S t o r t z, w e m e t b r i e f l y o f f t h e r e c o r d. 3 M y n a m e i s L o u D i n g e l d e y. I'm the attorney for 4 t h e W e s t S e n e c a C e n t r a l S c h o o l D i s t r i c t, a n d I ' m 5 here to ask you some questions about some 6 allegations that have been made about conduct 7 f r o m A p r i l a n d M a y o f 2 0 1 9, a s w e l l a s a l i t t l e 8 bit of background information and some of the 9 criminal related matters that may have followed 10 t h e s e i n c i d e n t s. O k a y? 11 A. O k a y. 12 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: Let me just -- I'm going to ask the 13 w i t n e s s f o r h i s d a t e o f b i r t h. We can redact it 14 so that the last two digits of the year are 15 s h o w n. 16 So I'm not going to have your whole date 17 w r i t t e n d o w n, b u t y o u c a n t e l l m e . 18 T H E W I T N E S S: ( R e d a c t e d) 2 0 0 2. 19 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 20 Q. O k a y. Y o u k n o w w h a t, b e f o r e w e g e t s t a r te d , I 21 s h o u l d j u s t k i n d o f g o o v e r s o m e g r o u n d r u l e s. 22 B e c a u s e o u r c o n v e r s a t i o n i s b e i n g r e c o r d e d, j u s t 23 do your best -- and you're off to a fine start -- Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 8 1 t o l e t m e f i n i s h b e f o r e y o u a n s w e r. That way you 2 g e t t o h e a r t h e w h o l e q u e s t i o n. And do your best 3 to keep your voice up and give a yes or a no or 4 a n e x p l a n a t i o n. O k a y? 5 A. (Indicating yes.) 6 Q. Is that a yes? 7 A. Yes. 8 Q. A l l r i g h t. And if you don't understand any of my 9 q u e s t i o ns o r y o u c a n ' t h e a r m e , I ' m n o t b e i n g 10 l o u d e n o u g h, t h e r e' s a f a n , s o m e o n e i s c o u g hi n g , 11 let me know and I'll repeat or rephrase the 12 question for you. O k a y? 13 A. U n d e r s t o o d. 14 Q. We may jump around a little bit. If we do that 15 and you become uncertain as to the time frame of 16 t h e q u e s t i o n, w h e t h e r I m e a n t o d a y o r I m e a n f o u r 17 y e a r s a g o , l e t m e k n o w a n d I ' l l c l a r i f y. O k a y? 18 A. U n d e r s t o o d. 19 Q. A n d , l a s t l y, t r y t o b e p a t i e n t. Let me finish 20 before you answer and I'll try to give you the 21 s a m e c o u r t e s y. That way you get to hear the 22 w h o l e q u e s t i o n a n d w e ' r e n o t t a l ki n g o v e r e a c h 23 o t h e r, a n d t h e c o u r t r e p o r t e r c a n t a k e a n i c e, Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 9 1 clean and accurate transcription of our 2 d i s c u s s i o n. O k a y? 3 A. O k a y. 4 Q. A l l r i g h t. You gave an address of 56 Stenzil 5 S t r e e t i n N o r t h T o n a w a n d a. Is that an apartment 6 o r a h o u s e? 7 A. H o u s e. 8 Q. A n d d o y o u o w n o r r e n t? 9 A. R e n t. 10 Q. H o w l o n g h a v e y o u l i v e d t h e r e? 11 A. T h r e e m o n t h s. 12 Q. D o y o u l i v e w i t h a n y o n e? 13 A. M y m o t h e r a n d s i s t e r. 14 Q. I s y o u r m o t h e r H e a t h e r T h i b e a u l t? 15 A. Yes. 16 Q. A n d w h o i s y o u r s i s t e r? 17 A. H e i d i P e t e r s o n. 18 M R . N I C A S T R O: W h a t w a s t h a t n a m e? I c o u l d n' t h e a r. 19 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: P e t e r s o n. H e i d i P e t e r s o n. 20 M R . N I C A S T R O: Gotcha. 21 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 22 Q. B a c k i n a p p r o x i m a t e l y A p r i l a n d M a y o f 2 0 1 9, 23 w h e r e d i d y o u l i v e? Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 10 1 A. 2 4 B a r n s d a l e A v e n u e. 2 Q. T h a t' s i n W e s t S e n e c a? 3 A. Yes. 4 Q. T h a t' s 1 4 2 2 4? 5 A. Yes. 6 Q. O k a y. A n d i s t h a t y o u r f a t h e r a n d s t e pm o t h e r' s 7 h o u s e? 8 A. Yes. 9 Q. O k a y. B a c k i n - - b a s e d u p o n y o u r d a t e o f b i r t h, 10 you're no longer -- you're over eighteen now? 11 A. Yes. 12 Q. B a c k i n M a y o f 2 0 1 9, h o w o l d w e r e y o u ? 13 A. S e v e n t e e n. 14 Q. A n d a t t h a t t i m e, y o u r p a r e n t s w e r e d i v o r c e d? 15 A. Yes. 16 Q. Did they share custody of you? Did one of them 17 h a v e s o l e c u s t o d y? How did that work if you 18 k n o w? 19 A. I t w a s j o i n t c u s t o d y. 20 Q. But you lived with your dad? 21 A. C o r r e c t. 22 Q. O k a y. D i d y o u r m o m h a v e v i s i t a t i o n? Would you 23 s e e m o m e v e r y o t h e r w e e k o r s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h a t? Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 11 1 A. S a w m y m o m o n c e a w e e k. 2 Q. O k a y. A n d i n A p r i l - - i n s a y A p r i l o f 2 0 1 9, y o u 3 w e r e a t W e s t S e n e c a W e s t H i g h S c h o o l? 4 A. Yes. 5 Q. W a s t h a t y o u r f i r s t y e a r a t W e s t S e n e c a W e s t? 6 A. No. 7 Q. Where did you go to school before that -- when 8 d i d y o u f i r s t c o m e t o W e s t S e n e c a W e s t? 9 A. I m o v e d t o W e s t S e n e c a i n t h i r d g r a d e. 10 Q. O k a y. A n d y o u a t t e n d e d W e s t S e n e c a s c h o o ls f r o m 11 third grade right through approximately May of 12 2 0 1 9? 13 A. Yes. 14 Q. A n d i n M a y o f 2 0 1 9, w e r e y o u a j u n i o r o r a 15 s e n i o r? 16 A. I w o u l d b e a j u n i o r. 17 Q. D i d y o u g r a d u a t e f r o m W e s t S e n e c a W e s t? 18 A. Yes. 19 Q. Did you get home instruction for any portion of 20 y o u r l a s t y e a r a n d a h a l f, o r n o ? 21 A. Yes. S e n i o r y e a r. 22 Q. O k a y. A n y p o s t h i g h s c h o o l e d u c a t i o n? 23 A. No. Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 12 1 Q. Do you currently have a job? 2 A. Yes. 3 Q. W h e r e d o y o u w o r k? 4 A. T h e n a m e i s V i s h a y, V - I - S - H - A - Y . And it's like 5 a -- make resistors for electronics and for 6 h e a l t h c a r e a n d p h o n e s. 7 Q. A n y m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e? 8 A. No. 9 Q. A n y c r i m i n a l c o n v i c t i o n, o t h e r t h a n r e l a t e d t o 10 w h a t y o u r a t t o r n e y d e s c r i b e d b e f o r e? 11 A. No. 12 Q. A n d r e l a t i n g t o t h e e v e n ts o f A p r i l a n d M a y o f 13 2 0 1 9, d o y o u h a v e a n y c r i m i n a l c o n v i c t i o n s? 14 A. Yes. 15 Q. Y o u p l e d g u i l t y t o s o m e c h a r g e - - c h a r g e s? 16 A. Yes. 17 Q. D o y o u k n o w w h a t t h o s e c h a r g es w e r e? 18 A. N o t o f f t h e t o p o f m y h e a d. 19 Q. O k a y. 20 M R . K R U L L: J u s t f o r t h e r e c o r d, a s I p u t o n t h e 21 r e c o r d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g, t h o s e w e r e t h e c h a r g es 22 that he pled guilty to. 23 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: G r e g, d o y o u k n o w i f i t w a s o n e c o u n t Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 13 1 or two? 2 M R . K R U L L: W e l l, I t h i n k t h e r e w e r e t w o c h a r g es , 3 yes. Sections 1 and 2. 4 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: O k a y. Y o u d i d s a y t h a t. I 5 a p p r e c i a t e t h e c l a r i f i c a t i o n. 6 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 7 Q. A l l r i g h t. M r . S t o r t z, w e ' r e g o i n g t o a s k y o u 8 eventually -- and I understand you may take the 9 Fifth -- about some incidents or allegations 10 involving N.J.S. in approximately the time frame 11 o f A p r i l o r M a y o f 2 0 1 9. 12 B e f o r e t h a t p e r i o d o f t i m e, s o i n y o u r p r i o r 13 h i g h s c h o o l c a r e e r, d i d y o u h a v e a d i s c i p l i n a r y 14 h i s t o r y a t W e s t S e n e c a? 15 A. No. 16 Q. A n d y o u m a y h a v e - - I d o n ' t m e a n - - y o u k n o w, y o u 17 m a y h a v e h a d a c l a s sr o o m d e t e n t i o n o r t w o , b u t 18 a n y t h i n g t h a t r e s u l te d i n a n y k i n d o f s u s p e n s i o n s 19 o r h e a r i n g s o r a n y t h i n g l i k e t h a t? 20 A. No. 21 Q. O k a y. Were you ever on any kind of disciplinary 22 probation or had you ever been involved in any -- 23 l e t m e r e p h r a s e. Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 14 1 Were you ever on any disciplinary probation 2 at all? 3 A. No. 4 Q. Had you ever been punished for any type of 5 a s s a u l t o f a n y k i n d i n s c h o o l? 6 A. D u r i n g h i g h s c h o o l? 7 Q. Yes. 8 A. No. 9 Q. W h a t a b o u t a n y t y p e o f t h r e a ts o r b u l l y i n g, a n y 10 h i s t o r y o f t h a t w h e r e y o u w e r e p u n i s he d i n h i g h 11 s c h o o l? 12 A. No. 13 Q. Or did you have to see any authority figure like 14 the vice principal about any allegations of a 15 threat or bullying or any type of assault before 16 t h e s e a l l e g e d i n c i d e n t s i n A p r i l a n d M a y o f 2 0 1 9? 17 A. No. 18 Q. At some point you became acquainted with a person 19 named N.J.S.? 20 A. Yes. 21 Q. How did you first come to know her or meet her? 22 M R . K R U L L: I'm going to direct him not to answer and 23 t a k e t h e F i f t h o n t h a t q u e s t i o n. Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 15 1 So why don't you say to the court reporter 2 that you're going to assert the Fifth on the 3 a d v i c e o f c o u n s e l. 4 T H E W I T N E S S: I'm going to assert on the advice of 5 c o u n s e l a n d p l e a d t h e F i f t h. 6 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 7 Q. W e r e y o u i n t r o d u c e d t o h e r b y f r i e n d s? 8 M R . K R U L L: Y o u c a n a n s w e r. 9 T H E W I T N E S S: Y e a h. 10 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 11 Q. Was your first communication with her in person 12 o r v i a e l e c t r o n i c m e a n s? 13 M R . K R U L L: D i r e c t h i m n o t t o a n s w e r. Assert the 14 F i f t h. 15 T H E W I T N E S S: D i r e c t n o t t o a n s w e r. P l e a d t h e F i f t h. 16 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 17 Q. D o y o u k n o w w h e n y o u f i r s t m e t o r c o m m u n i c a t ed 18 with her? 19 M R . K R U L L: F i f t h. 20 T H E W I T N E S S: P l e a d t h e F i f t h. 21 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 22 Q. And if I'm understanding you, in April and May of 23 2 0 1 9 y o u w e r e a j u n i o r. Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 16 1 A. Yes. 2 Q. W a s N . J . S . t o y o u r k n o w l e d g e a f r e s h m a n, N . J . S . ? 3 A. I believe so, yes. 4 Q. W e r e y o u i n a n y c l a s s es w i t h h e r ? 5 A. No. 6 Q. D i d y o u h a v e a n y l u n c h p e r i o ds w i t h h e r ? 7 A. Yes. 8 Q. W a s i t e v e r y d a y o r c e r t a i n d a y s? 9 A. C e r t a i n d a y s. 10 Q. P r i o r t o A p r i l o f 2 0 1 9, h a d y o u e v e r s a t w i t h h e r 11 d u r i n g l u n c h? 12 A. Y e a h. 13 Q. D i d y o u h a v e c o m m o n f r i e n d s? 14 A. Yes. 15 Q. D o y o u r e m e m b e r a n y o f t h e i r n a m e s? 16 A. N o t d i r e c t l y, n o . 17 Q. W h e n y o u s a t w i t h h e r i n l u n c h, d i d y o u e v e r 18 speak to her? A g a i n, p r i o r t o A p r i l o f 2 0 1 9. 19 A. Y e a h. 20 Q. Do you remember what you said to her -- or, what 21 the gist of the conversation was? 22 A. G i s t o f t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n w a s u s u a l l y j o k e s, 23 l i g h th e a r t e d o n e s, n o t h i n g o f f e n s i v e i n n a t u r e. Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 17 1 Q. Did there come a time that you were -- I'll use 2 t h e t e r m t a l ki n g t o N . J . S . ? 3 M R . K R U L L: I'm going to object to form and ask you 4 to clarify that question as to whether I'm going 5 t o a l l o w h i m t o a n s w e r. 6 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 7 Q. D i d t h e r e c o m e a t i m e w h e n y o u w e r e s t a r ti n g t o 8 communicate regularly with N.J.S.? 9 M R . K R U L L: O b j e c t i o n. Don't answer in that form 10 because communication is subject to various 11 d e f i n i t i o ns . 12 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 13 Q. Did there come a time you were dating N.J.S.? 14 A. Yes. 15 Q. Do you know about what period of time that was? 16 A. L i k e M a r c h, m a y b e a m o n t h b e f o r e. 17 Q. 2 0 1 9? 18 A. Yes. 19 Q. O k a y. And did you ever have a date or meet up 20 w i t h h e r o u t s i d e o f s c h o o l? 21 A. No. 22 Q. D i d y o u e v e r c a l l h e r o n t h e p h o n e? 23 M R . K R U L L: O b j e c t i o n. D o n ' t a n s w e r t h a t. Take the Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 18 1 F i f t h. 2 T H E W I T N E S S: P l e a d t h e F i f t h. 3 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 4 Q. D i d y o u h a v e c o m m u n i c a t i o ns w i t h h e r b y o t h e r 5 e l e c t r o n i c m e a n s s u c h a s t e x t o r I n s t a g r a m? 6 M R . K R U L L: P l e a d t h e F i f t h. 7 T H E W I T N E S S: P l e a d t h e F i f t h. 8 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 9 Q. O k a y. Did there come a time you met up with her 10 i n p e r s o n w i t h i n s c h o o l i n p e r s o n? 11 A. C o u l d y o u r e p e a t t h e q u e s t i o n? 12 Q. S u r e. Did there come a time -- and I understand 13 y o u w e r e d a t i n g b u t y o u d i d n' t m e e t u p o u t s i d e o f 14 s c h o o l. Did there come a time you met up inside 15 s c h o o l t o s p e n d t i m e t o g e t h e r? 16 A. Yes. 17 Q. O k a y. Do you recall when that first was? 18 A. I t h i n k i t w a s l a t e M a r c h. 19 Q. S o m e w h e r e i n t h a t v i c i n i t y? 20 A. Y e a h. 21 Q. W e ' r e t a l k i n g 2 0 1 9? 22 A. Yes. 23 Q. Was anyone else present when you first met up to Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 19 1 s p e n d t i m e t o g e t h e r a t s c h o o l? 2 A. Yes. 3 Q. W h o w a s t h e r e? 4 A. One of her sisters and some other schoolmates 5 t h a t w e r e p r e s e n t a t t h e t i m e. 6 Q. Was this during school hours of after school 7 h o u r s? 8 A. A f t e r s c h o o l h o u r s. 9 Q. Do you know about what time you met up? 10 A. I'm trying to remember when school officially 11 e n d e d, b u t i t w a s a r o u n d w h e r e t h e b u s e s w e r e 12 l e a v i n g. 13 Q. S h o r t l y a f t e r b u s e s l e f t? 14 A. Yes. 15 Q. A n d t h i s w a s k i n d o f a g r o u p m e e t- u p w i t h s o m e 16 s c h o o l m a t e s, N . J . S . a n d h e r s i s t e r? 17 A. Yes. 18 Q. A t a n y t i m e d u r i n g t h a t e n c o u n t e r, d i d y o u a n d 19 N.J.S. pair off at all? 20 A. No. 21 Q. D u r i n g t h a t e n c o u n t e r, w a s t h e r e a n y p h y s i c a l 22 a f f e c ti o n , h u g g i n g, k i s s i n g, a n y o t h e r t o u c h i n g? 23 A. No. Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 20 1 Q. H o w d i d t h a t m e e t- u p e n d ? 2 A. W e h a d s a i d g o o db y e a n d t o o k o u r s e p a r a t e 3 a f t e r- s c h o o l b u s e s b a c k h o m e. 4 Q. Do you recall the times of the buses back in 5 2 0 1 9? W e r e t h e r e t w o b u s e s, t h r e e b u s e s? 6 A. I w a n t t o s a y t h e r e w a s t h r e e, m a y b e f o u r. 7 Q. D o y o u r e m e m b e r a n y o f t h e t i m e s? Even if it's 8 a p p r o x i m a t i o n s. 9 A. I w o u l d g u e s s a r o u n d m a y b e t w o - f o r t y. 10 Q. T h a t' s o n e o f t h e l a t e r b u s e s? 11 A. Y e a h. 12 Q. I s t h a t t y p i c a l l y t h e b u s y o u w o u l d t a k e? 13 A. T h e y a l l c a m e a r o u n d t h e s a m e t i m e. It's just 14 d i f f e r e n t b u s e s t o o k d i f f e r e n t r o u t e s. 15 Q. O k a y. Were you and N.J.S. on the same bus or 16 d i f f e r e n t b u s e s? 17 A. D i f f e r e n t. 18 Q. O k a y. A f t e r t h a t f i r s t m e e ti n g i n a p p r o x i m a t e l y 19 l a t e M a r c h o f 2 0 1 9, d i d t h e r e c o m e a t i m e t h a t 20 you physically met up with N.J.S. at school to 21 s p e n d a n y a m o u n t o f t i m e t o g e t h e r? 22 M R . K R U L L: O b j e c t t o t h e f o r m. You can answer to 23 the extent that it is not an event that led to Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 21 1 what you pled guilty to. 2 T H E W I T N E S S: No. 3 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 4 Q. O k a y. How many times in total did you meet up 5 with N.J.S. to spend any amount of time together 6 a t s c h o o l? 7 A. O n l y o n c e, n o t i n c l u d i n g t h e i n c i d e n t. 8 Q. O k a y. That one time you described with her 9 sister present and some other schoolmates whose 10 n a m e s y o u d o n ' t r e c a l l? 11 A. Yes. 12 Q. O k a y. So you met up that one time and then 13 a p p a r e n t l y y o u m e t a g a i n f o r a n o t h e r t i m e, b u t 14 t h a t' s t h e s u b j e c t o f y o u r g u i l t y p l e a? 15 A. Yes. 16 Q. O k a y. Did you have any type of text or e-mail 17 communications between the first meeting and then 18 t h e l a t e r m e e t i n g? 19 M R . K R U L L: O b j e c t i o n. D o n ' t a n s w e r t h a t. Plead the 20 F i f t h. 21 T H E W I T N E S S: P l e a d t h e F i f t h. 22 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 23 Q. O k a y. During the time you were dating N.J.S. up Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 22 1 to the time of the second meeting for which 2 y o u ' r e t a k i n g t h e F i f t h, h a d y o u e v e r a d v i s e d 3 anyone at school -- any adults at school about 4 your relationship with N.J.S.? 5 M R . K R U L L: Y o u c a n a n s w e r. 6 T H E W I T N E S S: No. 7 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 8 Q. O k a y. At any time had you had any communications 9 with N.J.S.'s parents prior to the event for 10 w h i c h y o u ' r e t a k i n g t h e F i f t h? 11 A. No. The only other relative that had known that 12 m e a n d h e r w e r e t a l k i n g w a s h e r s i s t e r. 13 Q. H e r s i s t e r w a s a w a r e y o u w e r e d a t i n g? 14 A. N o , n o t d a t i n g. 15 Q. O k a y. She was aware that you spent time together 16 o n a t l e a s t t h a t o n e o c c a s i o n? 17 A. Yes. 18 Q. D i d y o u - - w e r e y o u f a m i l i a r w i t h h e r s i s t e r? 19 A. I had known her, yes. 20 Q. A n y c l a s s e s w i t h h e r s i s t e r? 21 A. N o , n o t t h a t I r e m e m b e r. 22 Q. W h a t g r a d e w a s h e r s i s t e r i n i f y o u r e c a l l? 23 A. A l s o a j u n i o r. Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 23 1 Q. S o s h e w a s i n y o u r g r a d e, b u t y o u w e r e i n 2 d i f f e r e n t c l a s s e s? 3 A. Y e a h. 4 Q. Were your parents aware that you were dating 5 N.J.S.? 6 A. No. 7 Q. At some point were you made aware that N.J.S. 8 made a criminal complaint against you? 9 A. Yes. 10 Q. A n d i s i t t h o s e a l l e g a t i o ns , t h a t' s w h a t y o u 11 eventually pled guilty to and for which you're 12 t a k i n g t h e F i f t h t o d a y? 13 A. Yes. 14 Q. O k a y. Were you aware if another female made 15 criminal charges against you? 16 A. Yes. 17 Q. D o y o u k n o w h e r n a m e? It should probably be 18 r e d a c t e d t o t h e i n i t i a l s. 19 A. I think it's J.W. I f o r g e t t h e l a s t n a m e. 20 Q. O k a y. Did your guilty plea involve the claims 21 made by J.W.? 22 A. Yes. 23 M R . N I C A S T R O: H o w d o y o u p r o n o u n c e t h a t n a m e? Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 24 1 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: J.W. H e j u s t g a v e t h e i n i t i a l. He 2 d o e s n' t k n o w h e r l a s t n a m e. 3 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 4 Q. Were you arrested regarding the charges by J.W. 5 prior to the allegations made by N.J.S.? 6 A. Yes. 7 Q. Were your parents notified when you were 8 a r r e s t e d? 9 A. Yes. 10 Q. W o u l d t h a t i n c l u d e y o u r f a t h e r, y o u r s t e p m o t h e r 11 a n d y o u r m o t h e r? 12 M R . L E N T: O b j e c t t o t h e f o r m. 13 T H E W I T N E S S: J u s t m y f a t h e r k n e w. 14 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 15 Q. Did he have to bail you out? 16 A. No. 17 Q. Y o u w e r e r e l e a s e d o n y o u r o w n r e c o g n i z a n c e? 18 A. Yes. 19 Q. Did your mother ever come to learn about the 20 charge by J.W.? 21 M R . L E N T: O b j e c t t o t h e f o r m. 22 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 23 Q. Did you ever -- you or your father in your Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 25 1 presence ever tell her about it? 2 A. No. 3 Q. At that time your mom had shared custody with 4 you -- of you? 5 A. Yes. 6 Q. O k a y. W e r e a l l t h e c h a r g es f r o m J . W . a n d N . J . S . 7 r e s o l v e d w i t h o n e p r o c e e d i n g? 8 A. Yes. 9 Q. And that was the guilty plea your attorney 10 d e s c r i b e d b e f o r e? 11 A. Yes. 12 Q. D o y o u r e c a l l w h a t, i f a n y t h i n g, y o u r p u n i s h m e n t 13 w a s c r i m i n a l l y f r o m t h a t g u i l t y p l e a? 14 M R . K R U L L: O b j e c t i o n. D o n ' t a n s w e r t h a t. The 15 charges as I think you know were resolved through 16 a y o u t h f u l o f f e n d e r r e s o l u t i o n. 17 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: All of them or just the first one? 18 M R . K R U L L: Everything that he pled to. And as of 19 t h i s p o i n t, t h e C o u r t h a s n o t r e l e a s e d t h o s e 20 d o c u m e n t s, s o I ' m g o i n g t o , y o u k n o w, a d v i s e h i m 21 n o t t o a n s w e r t h o s e q u e s t i o n s o n t h a t b a s i s. 22 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: A n d I ' l l n o t e f o r t h e r e c o r d, w e d o 23 h a v e a m o t i o n p e n d i n g. It's been pending for Sue Ann Simonin Court Reporting FILED: ERIE COUNTY CLERK 11/09/2023 01:06 PM INDEX NO. 805265/2020 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 130 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 11/09/2023 26 1 s e v e r a l w e e k s. W e d o n o t h a v e a r e t u r n d a t e, b u t 2 w e d i d m o v e t o r e s o l v e t h a t. I did not want to 3 p u t o f f t o d a y' s p r o c e e d i n g s. As per the 4 directive I thought was -- to me it was to move 5 f o r w a r d w i t h t h e s e e x a m i n a t i o n s t o d a y. So 6 o b v i o u s l y w e r e s e r v e a l l o u r r i g h t s. 7 M R . K R U L L: I will add, it is my understanding that 8 there were court issues with the, with the pleas 9 a n d h o w t h e y w e r e d e a l t w i t h b y t h e C o u r t, b u t 10 u l t i m a t e l y b o t h w e r e y o u t h f u l o f f e n d e r s t a t u s. 11 M R . D I N G E L D E Y: O k a y. T h a n k y o u f o r c l a r i f y i n g. 12 B Y M R . D I N G E L D E Y: 13 Q. W h e n y o u m a d e y o u r g u i l t y p l e a, d i d y o u m a k e a n y 14 type of allocuti