Accompset Elementary Students Interact With NASA Experts

NASA experts chat with Accompsett Elementary students

Fifth grade students at Accompsett Elementary School learned about the excitement of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and the upcoming Crew-8 launch by interacting with NASA experts in a virtual program held on Feb. 1 at Accompsett Elementary School.

Students, who submitted questions beforehand that were answered by the crew, learned how astronauts are transported to and from the International Space Station, NASA missions and research.

Upon completion of the virtual connection, students were challenged to complete a hands-on activity. The educators will then share the students’ solutions to NASA through the NASA CONNECTS community of practice. 

Photos courtesy of Smithtown CSD

***Missing 28-Year-Old Huntington Station Man***

Walter Antonio Portilla Rivera was located on February 2 at approximately 8:30 p.m. by the Riverhead Police Department and is unharmed.

Bookkeeper Indicted For Embezzling $1M From Bay Shore Business

BOOKKEEPER INDICTED FOR EMBEZZLING OVER $1 MILLION FROM HER EMPLOYER

Domenica Giordano Allegedly Stole from Bay Shore Family Business for Nearly Five Years

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of Domenica Giordano, 39, of Islip Terrace, accused of Grand Larceny in the First Degree for allegedly embezzling more than $1 million from All Systems Maintenance,a commercial plumbing business located in Bay Shore, New York.

“Small businesses are an integral part of our local economy,” said District Attorney Tierney. “My office takes all allegations of theft from hard-working business owners very seriously. If you steal in Suffolk County, we will hold you accountable.”

According to the investigation, Giordano was employed as a bookkeeper at All Systems Maintenance for approximately 17 years. In May 2020, the owner of the business asked the defendant to help her access the corporate bank accounts. After several days of the defendant ignoring this request, the owner went directly to the local branch of her bank to personally review the accounts. When she did, she discovered unauthorized withdrawals totaling over $1 million that dated back to September 2015.

A subsequent investigation revealed that between 2015 and 2020, Giordano allegedly began writing checks to herself without the company owner’s knowledge or permission. She signed the checks using a rubber stamp of the owner’s signature and allegedly deposited the corporate funds into both her personal account and her friend’s business accounts. By June 2020, Giordano had allegedly taken more than $1 million. It is alleged that the defendant made payments from the company accounts to pay off her own and her friend’s credit card balances.

On February 1, 2024, Giordano was arraigned on the indictment before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable John B. Collins, for Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a Class B felony. Justice Collins ordered the defendant to be monitored via supervised release. Giordano is being represented by Richard Kaufman, Esq. Her next court date is April 3, 2024. This case is being prosecuted by Jessica Lightstone and Adriana Noyola of the Financial Crimes Bureau with investigative assistance from Detective Daniel Pagano of the Financial Crimes Unit of the Suffolk County Police Department.

Man Arrested After Intentionally Crashing Vehicle Into Police Vehicle

Suffolk County Police this morning arrested a man after he fled the scene of a traffic stop and intentionally crashed his vehicle into an unmarked police vehicle.

First Precinct patrol officers observed a 2018 Nissan Altima without a rear license plate light and noticed the driver wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. The officers conducted a traffic stop and the 2018 Nissan Altima, driven by Naquan Reid, stopped at the corner of Centerwood Street and Troy Avenue in West Babylon, at approximately 12:10 a.m. As the officers were speaking to him, Reid fled the scene in the Nissan. The officers re-entered their vehicle. A short time later, they located the Nissan and activated the lights and sirens.

The Nissan made a U-turn, and Reid intentionally struck the police vehicle head on with the Nissan, then continued eastbound on Lakeway Drive. The officers continued to canvass the area, driving southbound on Straight Path, and located the Nissan as Reid attempted to turn right onto Straight Path from Fulton Street. Reid again intentionally crashed the Nissan into the police vehicle, then exited the Nissan and attempted to flee on foot. The officers apprehended him a short distance away.

Both officers were treated at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Bethpage for treatment of minor injuries and released. Reid, 33, of North Amityville, was charged with Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree, Unlawfully Fleeing an Officer in a Motor Vehicle 3rd Degree, Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree, Resisting Arrest, and a Bench Warrant. He is scheduled to be arraigned at a later date.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Former Residential Facility Employee Arrested for Having Sex with Resident

Suffolk County Police today arrested the former employee of a Dix Hills residential facility for having sex with a teenage resident.

Hayden Daley, who was an employee of WellLife Network, located at 43 Arista Drive, began a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old resident at the facility on July 3. Daley, who is no longer employed at the facility, continued the sexual relationship with the teen.

Second Squad Detectives arrested Daley, 27, of Deer Park, and charged him with two counts of Rape 2nd Degree, two counts of Criminal Sex Act 2nd Degree, and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip today.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on this case or believes they may be a victim of Daley to contact the Second Squad at 631-854-8252

E.Northport MS Student Arrested For Posting A Threat On Social Media

Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at approximately 8:10 a.m.

Suffolk County Police today arrested a 13-year-old East Northport Middle School student after she posted a threat on social media.

Second Squad detectives arrested the girl and determined there was no credible threat. The teen was charged with Threat of Mass Harm, a Class B Misdemeanor, and will be arraigned in

Suffolk County Family Court at a later date. A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Huntington Station Man Pleads Guilty To Sexual Abuse Of His Daughter

HUNTINGTON STATION MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO REPEATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF HIS DAUGHTER

The Defendant Entered Plea as Trial Was Set to Start

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that a 38-year-old Huntington Station man1 pleaded guilty to Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree and other related charges, for sexually abusing his daughter over the course of three years.

“This defendant was an absent father who came back into his child’s life only to sexually abuse her shortly thereafter,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Fortunately, the victim felt comfortable confiding in her teacher which led to a thorough investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department and prosecution by my office, culminating in his admittance of guilt. I want to thank everyone involved in this case for zealously protecting the rights of this child.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s statements during his plea allocution, beginning in the summer of 2016, when the victim was seven years old, the defendant began to sexually abuse her during his weekend visitations. Prior to that time, the defendant had not been a regular part of the victim’s life, and had only reached out to see her shortly before the abuse began.

The defendant told the victim that if she told anyone about what he did, that something bad would happen to her.

The District Attorney’s Office is not naming the defendant in order to protect the identity of the child victim. He also frequently bought the victim gifts as an apology for the sexual abuse he was subjecting her to. The abuse continued until 2019, when the victim, who was 10 years old at the time, told her mother that she was no longer comfortable sleeping at the defendant’s house. In 2022, the victim told a teacher what the defendant had done, which prompted a police investigation and subsequent arrest of the defendant.

On January 10, 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty to all charges in the indictment before County Court Judge, the Honorable Karen M. Wilutis to:

Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;

Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony;

Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor.

The defendant is due back in court for sentencing on February 9, 2024 He is being represented by Christopher Brocato, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney MacDonald Drane of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Sean Murphy of the Domestic Violence Unit, with investigative assistance from Detective Sergeant Lauren Ventura, formerly of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victims Section.

Elementary School Custodian Arrested For Public Lewdness

Suffolk County Police today arrested an elementary school custodian after he posted a video soliciting sex and exposing himself on social media while working at the school.

Thomas Winberry live steamed video of himself soliciting sex and exposing himself while working as a custodian at Otsego Elementary School, located at 55 Otsego Ave. in Dix Hills, on January 9 at 9:15 p.m.

Following an investigation, Special Victims Section detectives arrested Winberry, 34, of West Islip, and charged him with Public Lewdness. He was issued a desk appearance ticket and is scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to call the Special Victim’s Section at 631-852-6531.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Two Teens Seriously Injured On Old Commack Road

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating a crash that seriously injured two teens in Commack today.

Alexander Wisniewski was driving a 2022 BMW M5 traveling northbound on Old Commack Road when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree on the driver’s side at 10:27 a.m.

Wisniewski, 18, of Dix Hills, and the passenger in the vehicle, Haris Khan, 18, of Dix Hills, were transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore for treatment of serious injuries.

The vehicle was impounded for a safety check. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.

Man Installing Cesspool Ring Dies When Dirt Collapses In Head Of The Harbor

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man who was trapped after excavated dirt collapsed in Head of the Harbor. Employees from Darius Masonry Inc. were installing cesspool rings at 1 Piper Lane when LauronPacheco entered the hole to level the ring and the excavated dirt collapsed into the hole at approximately 2:25 pm.

Pacheco, 38, of Bay Shore, was extricated from the hole by Emergency Service Section officers and pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was notified.