Russian figure skater arrested

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Andrei Lutai, of Russia, performs in the men's free skating program at Skate America figure skating in Lake Placid, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. Mike Groll

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November 17, 2009

By KIM SMITH DEDAM The Press Republican Tue Nov 17, 2009, 05:48 PM EST

LAKE PLACID — A Russian figure skater competing in pre-Olympic trials has been charged with car theft and drunk driving.

Lake Placid Police say Andrei Lutai, 23, of St. Petersburg, Russia, was spotted stealing a 2008 Chevrolet Impala from a business on Main Street Sunday.

Sgt. Carol B. Hayes said the business owner saw the car being driven away and called police. An employee of the business followed the vehicle.

Lake Placid Police stopped the stolen car a few minutes later, about 10:55 p.m., and Lutai was arrested.

“Further investigation revealed the defendant was driving while intoxicated,” the police report said.

Lutai is considered an up-and-coming figure-skating competitor, winning silver and bronze medals the past two years in Russian Figure Skating Championships.

He placed tenth in Skate America Individual Men’s competition in Lake Placid on Saturday, the day before his arrest.

Lutai is charged with third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a vehicle and aggravated driving while intoxicated, which is usually brought when blood alcohol content is over twice the legal limit for driving.

Lutai was arraigned in Lake Placid Village Court and sent to Essex County Jail, where he is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

The case was referred to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.

Maj. Mike Badger of the Essex County Sheriff’s Department said Lutai remains in the County Jail.

“No one has to come to post bail,” Badger said this morning.

“He will wait to go back to court” at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

“ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) handles anybody who’s not an American citizen,” Badger added.

Fifty-five skaters competed at Skate America, a pre-Olympic trial competition over the weekend.

Lutai was the only Russian skater in the men’s field, according to Olympic Regional Development Authority spokesman Jon Lundin.

“He was here with his team, staying in Lake Placid. The U.S. Figure Skating Association helped find a translator when he was arrested.”

Lake Placid attorney Brian P. Barrett has been retained to represent Lutai.

“We are going to look for a disposition of charges,” Barrett said. “We’re just looking for him to at least be able to get back to competition.”

Barrett said there is no detainer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement at this point, because Lutai’s visa has not expired.

He said Lutai will plead not guilty.

“The Russian Consulate has been in touch with me, and Mr. Lutai certainly has support from the consulate and the Ice Skating Federation. He enjoys the lawful presumption of innocence, and the full panoply of legal protections under United States law.”

Lutai was staying at the Olympic Training Center. The rest of his team has left the region, and his coach is departing Thursday.

Michael W. Gilhooly, northeast regional communications director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement based in northern Vermont, said ICE does not discuss the individual immigration status of any person.

“We are aware of this case, and we will follow it as it progresses through the judicial system.”

E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com