The Fake Jesse James Indicted in Vandalism of Telephone Lines

Verizon lines cut, more than $20,000 worth of damage done

BY BILL DEMAREST

BARDONIA – A 42-year-old Bardonia resident who legally changed his name to Jesse James at some point following high school, has been indicted by a Rockland County grand jury on charges that he intentionally cut Verizon communication lines, doing more than $20,000 damage and interrupting telephone, video and data communications in the area.

James was arrested by Clarkstown police Jan. 13, when he was stopped for questioning and a pair of wire cutters were seen in his car, acceding to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe.

James is accused of criminal mischief and criminal tampering. His given name is Bernie Cullen and he graduated Clarkstown South in 1989.

He is charged with cutting Verizon lines at Pineview Avenue in Bardonia at around 9 p.m. on Jan. 13, and then cutting lines on Joseph Lane in Bardonia at about 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 14, Zugibe said, noting that James was seen in the area soon after each of the wires was damaged.

Some of this article has been republished with permission of the author