By Taylor K. Vecsey
Arrested three weeks ago and charged with second-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, David Soto of East Hampton pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Suffolk County Criminal Court in Riverhead on Tuesday.
His attorney, Jason Bassett of Central Islip, claimed that it was Blanca Soto who attacked her estranged husband. Mr. Bassett said yesterday that his client acted in self-defense and was still “in shock.”
Suffolk County police said Ms. Soto, 29, was stabbed at her house at the East Hampton Mobile Home Park on July 30, while the couple’s two sons were at home. The Sotos had a long history of fighting, and East Hampton Town police had been called to their house on Oakview Highway about a half-dozen times in response to police described as “verbal abuse.”
Ms. Soto had an order of protection in place until the week before she died, when it was lifted in East Hampton Town Justice Court at her request.
Despite Mr. Soto’s claim of self-defense, Suffolk County Criminal Court Judge C. Randall Hinrichs ordered Mr. Soto held without bail at his arraignment.
“Ms. Soto was a very unstable and violent woman,” Mr. Bassett said on the phone yesterday. “She originally attacked Mr. Soto with a knife, and any injuries she may have received from Mr. Soto were inflicted in self-defense.”
His arraignment at the county court in Riverhead, to which felony cases are transferred from East Hampton Town Justice Court, had been postponed twice.
Mr. Soto was being held without bail at the Suffolk County jail in Riverside after his initial arraignment in East Hampton Town Justice Court two days after he was arrested. Before long, however, he was moved to Pilgrim Psychiatric Center in Brentwood, where he was on suicide watch, according to Chief Michael Sharkey at the county jail.
On the night his wife died, Mr. Soto was found in his car with a self-inflicted cut on his neck. He is now back at the county jail.
“I would still describe him as being in shock to find himself in this position,” Mr. Bassett said, adding that, although his client had a criminal record, it involved drunken driving rather than “any predisposition for violence.”
While he would not further comment on Mr. Soto’s psychological state, Mr. Bassett said, “Of course he’s distraught that his children have lost their mother.” He would also not say if Mr. Soto has had contact with their sons, who are 11 and 9, since their mother’s death. His relatives are caring for the children in East Hampton.
Mr. Soto had been charged with second-degree harassment after a fight with his wife in June. His case was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal at the same time Ms. Soto asked for the order of protection to be lifted. That case is likely to be reopened as the murder case progresses.