Peekskill councilman, school superintendent wrapped up in state judiciary investigation

"

A state investigation that will force a Peekskill city court judge to resign at the end of the month has several other high-profile city officials in hot water. The New York Commission on Judicial Conduct released a report Wednesday that found 10-year Peekskill Judge Reginald Johnson committed several instances of misconduct, including sexual harassment and berating court staff. It also found he dismissed 11 traffic tickets based on his personal relationships with the defendants, not the evidence of the case. “The responsibility to decide cases impartially and on the merits is corrupted whenever a judge fixes traffic cases on behalf of friends or family," Commission Administrator Robert Tembeckjian said in a statement last week. One of the tickets Johnson dismissed was in 2018 at the request of Peekskill City Council Member Ramon Fernandez, who went to the judge on behalf of his friend. A year later, Johnson tossed out a speeding ticket committed by Peekskill Superintendent of Schools David Mauricio, who was going 55 mph in a 45 mph zone. The report said Mauricio asked Johnson's wife, then the school board president, to have her husband intervene. According to the report, the judge's sister texted the school superintendent after clearing Mauricio and said, "My husband took care of that issue today.” Mauricio responded, “Tell your husband I said a big thank you.” One day after the city's Common Council meeting, the board released a statement calling on Fernandez to resign. "The council referred this matter to the Peekskill Board of Ethics to investigate his possible ethics violation ... which states that no city official shall use or attempt to use his or her official position to give or secure privileges or exemptions for themselves or others," a statement from Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie's office said. Several residents spoke out about the incident. "This is a sad, sad occasion in Peeskill for whatever reason," Peekskill resident Lee Esther Brown said. "It hurts me that it's going on, but you, you dishonored the public trust." Another defended Johnson. "Though disturbed about what went on in the courts, I would just like to ask that our mayor, city manager and the council try to intervene and try to mediate because I don't think it's fair that Judge Johnson is walking away without his side being heard," said Peekskill resident Elizabeth McCorvey. Fernandez has not yet responded to News 12's request for comment. News 12 also reached out to both the Peekskill City School District and the Board of Education regarding Mauricio's involvement but has not heard back at this time. News 12 reached out to Johnson's attorney last week but has not heard back. "