GRAND JURY INDICTS BRONX WOMAN FOR HINDERING THE PROSECUTION OF AN ALLEGED COP KILLER

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that 29 year-old Claritza Fernandez has been indicted for hindering the prosecution of an alleged suspect in the fatal Easter Sunday morning stabbing of Detective Jaime Betancourt.

Fernandez, of Bayonne NJ, was indicted on 2 counts of Hindering Prosecution in the 1st degree, a class "D" Felony offense. If convicted Fernandez faces a maximum sentence of up to 7 years imprisonment.

It is alleged that Fernandez knowingly made false statements to authorities that she transported Alberto Gomez Gonzalez a suspect in the stabbing death of a police officer, to a motel in Allentown Pennsylvania, when she actually drove the suspect to an Elizabeth, New Jersey motel in an attempt to evade prosecution. Fernandez, who has been remanded, will be arraigned in State Supreme Court on April 28, 2002.

Chief Trial Assistant District Attorney Daniel McCarthy is prosecuting this case.