Central Nyack Man Sentenced to Prison on Theft, Drug Charges

A Central Nyack man has been sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to theft and drug sale charges in Rockland County Court in New City.

Michael Cohall, 34, of 13 Gillis Ave., Central Nyack, admitted thefts from Macy's at Palisades Center mall in West Nyack on Dec. 17, 2011, when watches and a perfume gift set were taken. Cohall was spotted and followed by store security officers, who tracked him to the parking lot.

District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said Cohall dropped a bag containing $1,243.50 worth of stolen merchandise and ran from the security officers. However, Cohall was later arrested by Clarkstown police.

In June 2011, Cohall sold heroin in the Village of Haverstraw. He pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance in the drug sale, and fourth-degree grand larceny in the thefts from Macy's.

Rockland County Court Judge William K. Nelson sentenced Cohall to one to three years in prison on the theft charge and also sentenced him to two years in prison on the drug sale charge, with the sentences to run concurrently. Cohall is also required to serve two years on post-release supervision when he gets out of prison.