Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe announced the arrest of Spring Valley Building Inspector Walter Booker on a variety of felony charges, including falsifying a Certificate of Occupancy for a village homeowner.
Booker, 54, is charged with:
• One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony
• Three counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree , class “E” Felonies
• Four counts of Issuing a False Certificate, class “E” Felonies
• Three counts of Offering a False Instrument For Filing in the First Degree, class “E” Felonies
• One count of Official Misconduct, a class “A” Misdemeanor
“The defendant held an important, potentially life‐saving position, but chose to allegedly circumvent the system and violate the public’s trust,” Zugibe said in a prepared statement. “His arrest shows that our prosecutors and law enforcement have zero tolerance for criminal conduct that undermines the County’s mandate to protect its citizens.
My office will ensure that justice is done in this case.”
According to the charges, Booker, who holds the position of Chief Building Inspector for the Village of Spring Valley, is accused of issuing false Certificates of Occupancy for a home located at 9 Zeissner Lane.
In doing so, the defendant aided the owner of the property in unlawfully obtaining tax exemptions to which the homeowner was not entitled, Zugibe said.
Booker, a Spring Valley resident, is also accused of filing false certificates which aided the owner of the property– and their associated corporation — to unlawfully receive income operating a daycare center/school at the location.
He was arraigned today and released on his own recognizance.
He is scheduled to return to Town of Ramapo Justice Court on Feb. 4.
