The Court Report
By Richard Blassberg

Port Chester Man, 26, Charged With Kidnap and Rape, Denied Bail in Sex Offender Court
Westchester County Court, White Plains
County Court Judge Rory J. Bellantoni Presiding

Last Thursday morning, Oct. 11, Federico Ordaz-Cejia, was arraigned in Sex Offender Court before Westchester County Judge Rory Bellantoni. Accused of kidnapping, raping and robbing, at knifepoint, a
21-year-old woman who had stopped at a gas station for a pack of cigarettes, by hiding in the back of her car and forcing her at knifepoint to a secluded area where he allegedly raped and sodomized her.

The defendant, who was charged in a 12- count indictment, was represented by Legal Aid Attorney Deborah Cassidy, who, when called upon by Judge Bellantoni, told the Court, “My client enters a plea of not guilty to each and every count.”

Assistant District Attorney Fred Green, prompted by the Judge, then responded, “The People are ready for trial, Your Honor.” Judge Bellantoni then inquired, “What is his current bail status?” to which Attorney Cassidy
responded, “He was remanded without bail.”

She then further offered, “I will be looking to establish a reasonable bail, Your Honor.” At that point, the Judge turned to ADA Green, who declared, “I’m going to be asking for a remand. The facts of this case are horrific
and nightmarish.” Green then went on to describe, in detail, the circumstances under which the Defendant snuck into the back of the victim’s car and compelled her to drive to a secluded area at knifepoint.

Green told the Court, “He raped her twice at knifepoint, and put his penis inside her anus. He then ran off with her car and house keys, leaving her destitute. He then fled New York State and went to Chicago, intending
to go to Mexico.”

The Prosecutor, attempting to impress upon the Court not only the heinous nature of the crime but the strength of the case, offered, “He was tied to the scene by a number of witnesses.” Then, wishing to further impress the Court with the potential risk of flight, Green stated, “He told United States Marshals, and Chicago Police, that he wasn’t too worried about his arrest because as soon as he would get out he would go to Mexico.”

Continuing, Mr. Green declared, “Although he was identified by the victim, there is DNA from vaginal and anal swabbings, and although there is a bail application, I am making an application for a DNA Exemplar, given
that he has been indicted.”

At this point, Judge Bellantoni directed the Prosecutor, “File that Motion today and serve it on the Court and Counsel.”

Defense Attorney Cassidy then broke in, “I acknowledge that we were contacted, but he is not going to consent to the DNA sample today.”

Upon those words, Mr. Green asked, “Back to the bail, Judge?” to which Bellantoni answered in the affirmative.
Attempting to give further support to the People’s request for a remand, Mr. Green stated, “He had a prior case and he was ordered to return to Court, but failed to. I doubt that he can live with his family. I doubt that they want him to live with them. He is homeless and he has no connection to Westchester. Furthermore, he could be facing upwards of 25-50 years. He only came back to New York because three Police Agencies combined to
bring him back.”

Once again, Defense Attorney Cassidy offered, “We are asking for reasonable bail. He has a minor prior record.”

Judge Bellantoni, having weighed Defense and Prosecution statements, then announced, “The Defendant is entitled to bail status. Remand is a bail status. The Court agrees with the People that he should be remanded.”