Pleasantville Man Charged with Heroin Possession

A 25-year-old Pleasantville man who appeared in court Tuesday was reportedly caught with heroin and a hypodermic instrument, according to the Westchester County District Attorney's Office.

Pleasantville Police reported the arrest of Michael Mandragona on Monday, Feb. 11, when he and two co-defendants were all charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree and Possession of a Hypodermic Instrument, misdemeanors.

Tuesday, two counts of Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree were also filed against Mandragona, who has been incarcerated since the arrest.

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The two new charges are felonies.

Arrested alongside Mandragona outside the Chase bank on Washington Avenue were a 24-year-old Pleasantville man, who was also charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Vehicle in the Third Degree; and a 22-year-old West Harrison man.

Pleasantville Police allege Mandragona attempted to cash a forged check at the bank.

Village Justice John Curley recused himself from all three cases—"I have signed off on recusals and put them in each file," he stated Tuesday, without providing further explanation.

Therefore, Acting Village Justice Virigina Collins is presiding over the cases.

The lawyers for Mandragona's co-defendants both told Collins their clients have been admitted to detox programs and were therefore unable to appear Tuesday. Both defendants had previously been released on $250 bail each, according to police.

Those cases were adjourned until April 2.

Given Mandragona's added felony charges, Assistant District Attorney Michael Ashraf requested bail be reset at $10,000.

Mandragona's Legal Aid Society attorney stated he could not make bail as is and said she planned to look for an in-patient program for him to attend.

"We will not enter a plea at this time," she added, also citing his "extensive ties" to the area.

Collins increased the total bail to $3,000 from $500 and the case was adjourned to March 5.

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Note: Arrests do not indicate convictions.