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Updated 03/17/2010 05:33 PM

Former co-worker said he was sexually harassed by Raucci

By: Steve Ference

Prosecutors called more witnesses to the stand Wednesday in the Steven Raucci trial, including the former custodial supervisor who said he was bullied and sexually harassed by Raucci. Our Steve Ference has been following the trial and has the latest from the Schenectady County Courthouse.

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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Retired Schenectady schools custodial supervisor Ronald Kriss testified Wednesday that he was petrified of Steven Raucci, as Raucci gained power at his head utility and union jobs, saying that he was sexually harassed by Raucci who allegedly played the "man game," grabbing Kriss' privates.

Kriss testified, "It happened three times one morning...It started to cause me loss of sleep. The demeanor was walking in everyday and basically getting beaten up...You basically feel like a whip dog."

Kriss said his doctors said he would die of a heart attack from the stress if he didn't leave, so he filed a sexual harassment suit against Raucci and the school district in 2005. Soon after, while working at a Schenectady Home Depot, Kriss found his vehicle had been keyed, gouged all around, tires punctured. Months later, his and his wife's vehicles were vandalized at their Rotterdam home. Some sort of acid had been poured on the paint, and the tires were punctured again. Another school worker testified he had seen Raucci grinding a screwdriver sometime before the attack. A neighbor of Kriss' testified he happened to be outside around the time of the vandalism at Kriss' house, describing a possible perpetrator as driving a school district pickup truck. The total damage was about $12,000.

But one of the key questions throughout this trial, what did school officials know, if anything, about the allegations, and when?

Kriss gave his take saying top school officials heard of such accusations five years ago, including Human Resources Manager Michael Stricos. "They had a very friendly (relationship)," said Kriss. "Mr. Stricos brought in a picture of Marlon Brando as the Godfather - he was elated."

This, as the defense again tried to get across how they believe the testimony just isn't relevant to the serious charges against Raucci, that some witnesses were coached, and that if anything Raucci was a prankster not a terrorist. Though Kriss also testified Raucci said he had three steps he followed - keying a car, spraying acid, and then a brick through the front window with a note.