Whispering Pines Boca Raton Parent Accused Of Anti-Semitism And Jailed For Voyeurism May Be Released. New Hearing Set.
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Three “witnesses” that are apparently key to the prosecution’s case against Chirag Patel did not show up for depositions over the past few days. Attorneys for Patel, the Whispering Pines Elementary School parent being held indefinitely on charges of theft and voyeurism, now want those witnesses held in contempt of court.
Jeffrey Warshaw, Robert Banuchi, and Gabriella Cabrera all allegedly have information that may be key to Patel’s defense. They were all subpoenaed by Patel’s attorneys to appear for depositions. They did not appear according to court records. Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Scott Suskauer is being asked to hold them in contempt — the first step to defense attorneys securing Patel’s release before trial. A hearing is set for later this month.
As BocaNewsNow.com has been reporting since late August, Patel made a series of anti-Semitic comments on social media, allegedly shouted anti-Semitic statements at Whispering Pines Elementary School staff members, and was banned from the school that his child attends. He also is accused of mentioning Whispering Pines while making online references to high-profile elementary school shootings. Patel was arrested in late August when police received what they say is an “anonymous tip” through an app. That tip led them to Patel who they claim was looking through windows of an area home.
Chirag Patel has been held in the Palm Beach County Jail since late August on charges that are unrelated to anti-Semitism or anything involving Whispering Pines Elementary — a school that serves some of the wealthiest homes in Palm Beach County. Even so, a group of parents took to GoFundMe to raise $15,000 for an attorney who claimed the parents are “victims” under Marsy’s Law, the victim’s rights law largely struck down by the Florida Supreme Court. Those parents had the attorney argue that Patel must remain in jail.
While judges in Palm Beach County and the 4th District Court of Appeals have agreed to keep Patel locked up pending trial, the new contempt hearings may dramatically impact the case. If witnesses refuse to be deposed, it’s unlikely prosecutors can continue their prosecution.
Read our Chirag Patel coverage here. We reached out to one of the witnesses who previously threatened BocaNewsNow.com for including their name in our reporting. That witness did not respond with an explanation as to why they seemingly ignored a subpoena. We will update this article if we receive a response.
