Armed burglary in Westerlo leads to arrest

WESTERLO — An armed man broke into a Westerlo home Tuesday night, injuring one of the residents before fleeing, only to be caught by the New York State Police four hours later. 

Joseph M. Sciancalepore, of Freehold, was charged with first-degree burglary; two counts of second-degree menacing; third-degree assault; fourth-degree criminal mischief; and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to the state police. 

Sciancalepore, 19, had entered the home occupied by an adult and a 17-year-old on Feb. 13; police responded around 8:20 p.m, according to a press release, which notes that Sciancalepore knew the occupants.

Trooper Stephanie O’Neil told The Enterprise that his motive is currently under investigation. 

Once inside, Sciancalepore, who was carrying a knife, injured the adult and damaged the home, though not with his weapon, the release says. The 17-year-old was unharmed.

Sciancalepore left before police arrived, the release said. O’Neil said that he was arrested in a home in Greene County early in the next morning, Feb. 14. Sciancalepore was arraigned in Westerlo Town Court and released to the Albany County Probation Department. 

Sciancalepore was arraigned in Westerlo Town Court and released to the Albany County Probation Department, under electronic monitoring supervision, according to Westerlo Town Court Clerk Jaimee Motschmann. 

He is due back in court on April 10, she said.

More Hilltowns News

  • Berne Supervisor Dennis Palow told The Enterprise that the town will pay $200,000 to Albany County for its emergency medical service, using a roughly-$320,000 revenue check he says will come in January. 

  • The $830,000 entrusted to the town of Rensselaerville two years ago has been tied up in red tape ever since, but an attorney for the town recently announced that the town has been granted a cy prés to move the funds to another trustee, which he said was the “major hurdle” in the ordeal.  

  • First responders arrived at 1545 Thompsons Lake Road in Knox early Tuesday morning to find the home there completely engulfed in flames. Two bodies were recovered. 

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