Two convicted in kidnapping of children from Greece foster home
Dimitri Cash, left, and his cousin Joenathan Cash were convicted of kidnapping Monday, May 23, 2022. Dimitri Cash was convicted of arranging for Joenathan Cash to kidnap his two children from their Greece foster home. The case against another kidnapping suspect, Kimara Pluviose, is pending. (Provided photos)
Rochester, N.Y. — The father accused of arranging the kidnapping of his two young children and his cousin, one of the kidnapping suspects, have been convicted.
Dimitri Cash had lost custody of his four children after an extensive investigation into corporal punishment involving the oldest two.
The youngest two, then 3 and 5, were living in a Greece foster home when two suspects broke in, duct-taped the foster mom and another child in the home together, and took Cash's two children. They were found two days later, unharmed, in Alabama.
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The jury deliberated less than three hours Monday, finding both men guilty. Dimitri Cash was convicted of kidnapping: specifically, of arranging for his cousin, Joenathan Cash, to break in and kidnap the children. He was also convicted of kidnapping Monday.
Another suspect, Kimara Pluviose, is accused of breaking in with Joenathan Cash and taking the children. Her case is pending.
"I think the quickness of the verdict showed what an amazing job all of the members of law enforcement did, from the Greece Police Department who led the investigation and they had the assistance of many agencies as well as the New York State Police. It was really a seamless investigation that led to the safe recovery of two children halfway across the country in less than 48 hours, so I think a quick verdict is a testament to that and the jury's ability to comprehend the extensive evidence we had here," Assistant District Attorney Sara VanStrydonck said.
Dimitri Cash represented himself. Joenathan Cash was represented by Paul Guerrieri and Melissa Wells-Spicer.
"I think just from a tactical standpoint as an attorney it made it more difficult in terms of conducting the trial," Guerrieri said.
Simitri and Joenathan Cash are expected to be sentenced on July 28.
Both are also accused of conspiring to murder Monroe County Family Court Judge Stacey Romeo. The case has yet to be heard.