No Bail for Lake Peekskill Youth Accused in Marcinak Murder

Anthony Grigoroff An 18-year-old Lake Peekskill youth accused in the shooting death of a popular Garrison businessman will remain incarcerated at the Putnam Correctional Facility in Carmel.

Anthony Grigoroff appeared in Putnam County Court Tuesday with his attorney who requested that Judge James Reitz set bail and release the suspect to the custody of his mother.

The judge refused and continued the case to August 25 when prosecution and defense will submit and respond to motions.

During a brief court appearance, it was revealed that Grigoroff provided police with videotaped and written statements detailing the shooting death of John Marcinak on New Year's Eve Day 2008 outside his Garrison Garage on Route 9.

Grigoroff faces a murder charge carrying a 25-year to life prison term. He also was charged with of criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of attempted burglary.

When announcing his arrest, Sheriff Donald Smith said the married father of three was shot to death when he interrupted the suspect and "one or more other persons" who were attempting to burglarize the garage.

Smith said the investigation was continuing with other arrests anticipated.

In court late Tuesday afternoon, defense counsel Micah Kwasnik of Brooklyn told Judge Reitz that his client had a strong support system and asked for bail. He charged the statements the teenager gave to police were "of dubious integrity."

The attorney promised the court that Grigoroff would live with his mother and seek employment while taking classes for a high school equivalency diploma.

Assistant District Attorney Chana Krauss, who is prosecuting the case, urged the judge to refrain from setting bond especially in the wake of the suspect's alleged actions last week when he threatened to harm a corrections officer escorting the teenager to the courtroom.

This is not Grigoroff's first run in with the law. He was arrested in May 2008 on two felony drug charges after being accused of selling cocaine to an undercover officer in Yorktown Heights.