"I'd like to see all of them dead, starting with Jacques Michel"

October 6, 2008  A criminal complaint has been filed against Spring Valley trustee Demeza Delhomme
for alleged threats and threatening actions taken against newly elected Democratic Committee members from the Ramapo Democrats for Change who have recently won a majority in the Committee in Ramapo. The threats were said to be directed at individuals and family members, and Delhomme represented himself as a member of the Democratic machine warning one Committee Member, "I know where you live and so do the St. Lawrence people." (Photo--Delhomme at the County Democratic Committee meeting Sept. 25.)

In a 30-page document filed with the Rockland County DA's office, NYS Assistant Attorney General, the Rockland and State Board of Elections, James L. Hyer of the Faga Savino law offices filed the complaint along with 6 affidavits describing threats made by Demeza Delhomme. In part, the document begins:

"The annexed Affidavits provide a clear cause for concern by my client, the Ramapo Democratic Committee, as its new leadership is endeavoring to open the doors of the Democratic Party to all within the Town of Ramapo, the largest Town within the County of Rockland. To forward this goal of uninhibited inclusion, the Ramapo Committee is seeking to promote political activity within all groups located within the Town and finds it deeply disturbing that Mr. Delhomme appears to be targeting members of the Haitian-American community within Ramapo, in an effort to threaten, intimidate and harass them with the goal of unlawfully manipulating their political activity or otherwise disenfranchising them.

It is further important to note, that Mr. Delhomme is an elected official, in that he is a Trustee in the Village of Spring Valley. One of the individuals accosted by Mr. Delhomme is an employee of the Village of Spring Valley whose employment was threatened due to his participation in the Ramapo Democratic Committee."

The complete text of the filing can be read here.

From Sworn Statement 1:

"DELHOMME threatened to use his association with Town of Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence to hurt me, my children and my business, unless I ended my affiliation and political activities with the Ramapo Democratic Party, Ramapo Democrats For Change and Rockland County Legislator Jacques Michel. He then stated that he, "Joined with Supervisor St. Lawrence to destroy Jacques Michel and to make sure that the Haitians who work with and follow Jacques Michel are destroyed and kicked out of Rockland forever because they do not listen to me."

"DELHOMME approached myself, Legislator Jacques Michel and Yolanda Michel, and stated to another individual standing in close proximity to us, 'I'd like to see all of them dead, starting with Jacques Michel.'"

From Sworn Statement 2:

"I told him that I had signed a Proxy and given it to Legislator Jacques Michel, our first Haitian-American Legislator. DELHOMME then told me, "You have signed your death condemnation because St. Lawrence told me that Jacques is a bad man and he is working with racist Jews who have paid Jacques $20,000.00 to mess up St. Lawrence's Committee." He then told me that St. Lawrence is in charge and that he can "help me or hurt me". DELHOMME then reminded me about my job with the Village of Spring Valley and said that if I acted correctly I would be "left alone".

   From Sworn Statement 3:

DELHOMME then told me not to go to the Democratic
meeting at night and that if I went to the meeting I would get into "serious trouble" because I was "not supposed to be there". Before he left the side of my vehicle, he told me that, "I know where you live and so do the St. Lawrence people."

  From Sworn Statement 4:

  "On or about September 14, 2008, I was at home when DEMEZA DELHOMME, ("DELHOMME"), started pounding on my front door. DELHOMME was screaming that he wanted to talk to me and to sign something for him. I answered the door and asked him what the problem was. He then said he knew that Jacques Michel was at my house and that I signed some papers for him regarding the Democratic Committee. DELHOMME   then said, You signed for the wrong man. Jacques is a bad man working for racist Jews, who pay him to make trouble for St. Lawrence. You will get into a lot of trouble with Jacques.

 I told DELHOMME that I gave my papers to Jacques Michel and that was all. He responded by telling me that I should not be part of the Committee and that he would come back with papers to take me off the Committee."

  From Sworn Statement 5:

"I then saw Mr. Demeza Delhomme, a trustee of the Village of Spring Valley government, immediately go to the area of the stage where the theatre light switches were located. The lights of the hall were then turned off, leaving the audience of approximately 400 persons waiting for the next meeting to start in darkness. I feared for my own safety and the safety of the audience which contained a number of senior citizens sitting in darkness facing the possibility of fire, panic or other disaster, with impairment to a quick and safe egress from the building."

Read the full text of the individual affadavits here.

Journal News coverage of this story here.