August 11, 2006

Herve Jeannot Convicted of Murder

3rd trial convicts man of ’04 murder in Island Park

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced Friday that Herve Jeannot, 25, of Deer Park, was found guilty of Murder in the First Degree by a Nassau County jury late Friday. The jury deliberated for less than four hours before reaching their verdict.

Mr. Jeannot was being tried for the third time for the December 2004 murder of Robert Calabrese Jr., 24, in Island Park, New York.

“This verdict will not bring Bobby Calabrese back, but I hope it will provide the family some sense of justice,” said Rice.

Mr. Jeannot’s September 2005 and February 2006 trials failed to yield a verdict.

The trial lasted more than four weeks and was in front of the Honorable Meryl J. Berkowitz. The case was prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Sheryl Anania and Deputy Bureau Chief Stephen Antignani. Mr. Jeannot was represented by Lawrence and Daniel Hochheiser.

In June of 2005, Mark Orlando was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree in connection with the killing. In August 2005, Mr. Orlando was sentenced to serve 25-years-to-life in prison. Mr. Jeannot will be sentenced September 18, where he faces a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole.