Dan Hust | Democrat THREE WINDOWS AT this unoccupied residence at 92 High St. in Monticello were broken by the same kind of paving stone used to break Village of Monticello Trustee Carmen Rue’s car window.

Rewards for info on window smashing

By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — Turns out Carmen Rue’s car wasn’t the only victim of criminal mischief.
Apparently on the same night as her vehicle’s back windshield was broken by a paving stone, Aida Markisic and Alil Pericic’s apartment house on High Street in Monticello was hit by some of the same type of stones, breaking three windows.
“Luckily the house was empty,” said Markisic – because, she explained, of ongoing litigation between Markisic/Pericic and the Village of Monticello over a building permit.
Markisic and Rue are certain the two cases of vandalism are related, and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Chief Art Hawker agrees.
Hawker, who is leading the investigation, affirmed that the incidents are linked by “a common thread” in what he termed a “political stew” in Monticello.
Rue, a village trustee, and Markisic, a supporter of village board candidate Keith Rieber’s campaign, have often been at the center of searingly personal arguments with other village leaders and residents, and Hawker does think someone was trying to intimidate them as a result.
Interviews have been conducted with a range of locals, but so far no arrests have been made.
“We’re not at a dead end,” Hawker commented. “We’re continuing our investigation.”
Markisic said she and Pericic are offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
On Saturday, she indicated that may jump to $5,000 this week.
Also on Saturday, Village Manager Zach Kelson announced that he, Rue and village trustees Scott Schoonmaker and Victor Marinello are collectively offering a $500 reward for info leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the damage to Rue’s vehicle, which she said totals nearly $1,600.
To share information (including anonymously), the Sheriff’s Office welcomes calls at 794-7100.