Paul 'P.J.' Tucci charged with tampering in Rideout death
Laura Rideout's boyfriend Paul "P.J." Tucci was charged Tuesday in connection with Rideout's estranged husband's death.
Tucci, 50, pleaded not guilty in Penfield Town Court to a charge of tampering with evidence. He was taken into custody but planned to post the equity in his home as bond.
Attorney Christopher Schiano, who represented Tucci at the arraignment, said he expected Tucci to be released Tuesday.
The criminal charge will be sent to a grand jury for possible indictment.
Tucci allegedly helped try to clean up evidence in the basement of Craig Rideout's Penfield home where the slaying is believed to have taken place. Tucci is accused of being an accomplice in the alleged cleanup, said Second District Attorney Tim Prosperi, the prosecutor in the case.
Prosperi said the homicide case is continuing but he could not comment further about it. "We proceed on any investigation based on evidence," he said.
Tucci and Laura Rideout were photographed in a Walmart before Craig Rideout's body was found. Investigators believe they were purchasing items that were used to dispose of Craig Rideout's body.
Tucci was arraigned in Penfield Town Court, the same court where Laura Rideout, 45, was arraigned in late July on charges of tampering with evidence and burglary alleging she tried to cover up Craig Rideout's homicide by using solvents to clean up blood in the basement of his townhouse at 135 New Wickham Drive in Penfield.
She was arrested July 21 and posted bail soon after.
► MORE: Blood, Laura Rideout's fingerprint found in slain husband's home
► READ: Documents released in Rideout case
Since then, court papers filed by prosecutors seeking a DNA sample from Laura Rideout allege she and Tucci bought a 24-foot tarp, two bungee cords, three bottles of heavy drain cleaner and a Diet Coke from the Hudson Avenue Walmart less than eight hours before Craig Rideout was found wrapped in a 24-foot tarp, secured by bungee cords and "disfigured" by sulfuric acid commonly found in heavy drain cleaner.
The papers include a video still of a smiling Laura Rideout and Tucci entering the Walmart about 9:50 p.m. on July 19.
Craig Rideout, 50, was found wrapped in the tarp in a wooded field in Yates County about 5:30 a.m. July 20.
Also charged in connection with the case are the Rideouts' two sons, Colin, 22, and Alexander, 19, who were charged with tampering with the evidence. Authorities allege they carried a bag with gloves, solvents and "acid-based drain cleaner" to Devil's Bathtub Pond at Mendon Ponds Park. There, they were arrested by Monroe County sheriff deputies while trying to dispose of the materials in a pond, authorities say.
The brothers were arraigned in Mendon Town Court and posted bail of $25,000 each. Their cases also have been sent to a grand jury.
No one has been charged with murder or accused of killing Craig Rideout.
Neighbors at Tucci's Perinton home said sheriff deputies were asking about Tucci's whereabouts this weekend. A moving van left the home last month.
In court Tuesday, Prosperi asked for a cash bail of $25,000 or $50,000 bond. Schiano said Tucci will post the equity in his home as bond.
Penfield Town Justice James Mulley ordered Tucci to stay in Monroe County.
Includes reporting by staff writer Gary Craig.