John D. Ceretto II, the Democratic candidate for Niagara County district attorney, was fired as an assistant district attorney the day after a friend from Lewiston called police to complain about what he was doing outside her apartment at 3:30 a.m. on a Sunday.
Ceretto told The Buffalo News on Thursday that he could not remember why he was fired.
Ceretto repeatedly rang the woman's doorbell, pounded on the window and said he was taking video as she was in the apartment with another man, according to a Lewiston Police Department report, obtained by The News through a Freedom of Information Law request.
Ceretto told The News that he was still residing at the apartment at the time, and that he lost his key and was trying to get in.
"I was never charged with anything because it's without merit," Ceretto said of the police report. He added later, "I was in fact trying to gain access. I lost my key. I was residing there at the time.”
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The woman, reached Friday, declined to discuss the incident but said she remains friends with him and supports his campaign.
Asked why he was fired, Ceretto said, "If that decision was made, that was the decision they made. I don’t know why they made it. That’s a question you’re going to have ask them," he said. "I would have to look at the letter I was sent. I’m sure I was provided with some documentation as to the reasoning, I just don’t have it in front of me.”
Later in the interview, Ceretto said of the reason, “No, I don’t remember it. This is two years ago. I mean, the actual verbiage. I want to provide exactly what they say. I don’t recall off the top of my head.”
A few hours later, asked if he had found the letter, Ceretto replied, "Attempted but could not locate."
He said he still has a friendly relationship with the woman.
"This is silly, and I would not like to discuss anything or allow anything to be misunderstood," the woman said Friday. "John has remained my best friend and I fully support him and have supported him throughout his entire campaign."
The police report indicated the incident occurred about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, March 11, 2018.
"Mr. Ceretto's employment with Niagara County ended on March 12, 2018. The last day he worked was March 9, 2018," said Joseph Provino, county manager of labor relations.
District Attorney Caroline A. Wojtaszek said she could not comment on personnel matters.
Read the full story from News Washington Bureau Chief Jerry Zremski
In a pre-election interview with The News earlier this month, Ceretto said he left the DA's Office to enter private practice.
The two-page police report lists a different home address for Ceretto than for the then-27-year-old woman who called police to her apartment. Officers Jonathan Emmons and John Penzotti wrote that the woman was with a 27-year-old man when Ceretto, then 32, showed up.
"They stated that about 0330 hours, their doorbell started to ring and (there was) knocking at the door constantly," the report said.
The woman "went to make sure the door was locked and Ceretto yelled that he heard her lock the door and continued to ring the doorbell," according to the report.
"Ceretto then went to the rear of the apartment building and began banging at the window and stated that he was filming with his phone through the window," the report continued. The woman "then told Ceretto that she had called the police and Ceretto took off. Patrol notified (her) that action will be taken to prevent an event like this to happen again. At this time (she) did not want to press any charge. (She) only wants it reported. Patrol advised (her) not to delete her messages received from Ceretto."
"The part about anything criminal in nature is false," Ceretto said Thursday.
Asked if the incident reflects negatively on his suitability to be district attorney, Ceretto said, “Absolutely not. Absolutely not. If there was something criminal in nature as to it, I wouldn’t have ran in the first place.”
Ceretto's opponent in Tuesday's election, Youngstown Republican Brian D. Seaman, declined to comment on the matter.
"Throughout the campaign, I have made a conscious decision to concentrate on my qualifications and experience," Seaman said. "I would continue to do that through the end of the campaign. What relevance these types of matters have should be left to the voters."
