Christopher Hudak sits in a police car after his arraignment at Peekskill City Court yesterday on charges stemming from a cross-burning at a black family's home in Cortlandt.

Hudak is a former Westchester Community College student who is out of school and unemployed, police said. His father, John Hudak, died Oct. 23 at the age of 52.

Maher issued nine orders of protection - seven for members of the Artope family and two for the other individuals Hudak reportedly told about the cross-burning. He also said the prosecutor could argue for higher bail today, when Hudak is due to appear before a Cortlandt town justice.

At a news conference yesterday, DiFiore said Hudak was charged under a 2006 law that makes cross-burning a hate crime.

Police charged Hudak on Wednesday after executing a search warrant at his address. The warrant turned up computer records that led to his arrest. Police said he immediately asked for a lawyer and refused to answer their questions.

Blogged HERE

-Jim