2017 Cases Still to Be Resolved

Several of the headline crime stories in East Hampton from the last year have been adjudicated, or are in the process of being adjudicated, in Suffolk County criminal court. 

The year began with a brazen robbery of the Speedway gas station in Wainscott by two men, one of whom threatened the clerk with what appeared to be a gun before the pair made off with several hundred dollars. Maximillian H. Bonilla, 19, of Mattituck and Joseph G. Worysz, 20, of Southold were implicated in three hold-ups over a span of five days, the first taking place three days after Christmas, 2016, at the Gamestop store on Old Country Road in Riverhead. Then, early on New Year’s Day of 2017, Mr. Bonilla and Mr. Worysz threatened the clerk at the Bolla Market Mobil Gas Station on Middle Country Road in Calverton, again brandishing the weapon, which turned out to be an air gun. Then they went to Speedway.

Mr. Bonilla was charged with three felony counts of robbery, along with a charge of brandishing a firearm during a robbery. On May 31, in the Central Islip courtroom of New York State Justice Fernando Camacho, he pleaded guilty to two of the robbery counts, and was released from custody, to be sentenced on June 12. That day came and went, with no sign of Mr. Bonilla. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and on Dec. 6, he was back in custody, standing in front of Justice Camacho, who remanded him to county jail. He will be sentenced on Jan. 18.

Mr. Worysz was also charged with three counts of robbery. On April 10, in front of Justice Camacho, he was allowed to plead guilty to one of the counts. He has since been returning to court on a monthly basis, with Justice Camacho apparently monitoring his progress before pronouncing sentence, likely in coming weeks.

Another case that made headlines was that of Petty Officer Third Class Matthew Patrick McGee of the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed on Star Island in Montauk. In the early morning hours of May 27, he left the Gig Shack on Montauk’s Main Street and walked up Essex Street, before entering a house through an unlocked sliding door. Once inside, he attacked a 67-year-old woman asleep in bed, striking and biting her repeatedly. 

Charged with four crimes, including burglary as a felony, he eventually pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, assault and criminal trespass, on Oct. 18, 2017. He is to be sentenced on Oct. 18 this year, exactly one year after taking the plea in county court. 

Kyle Thomas Lynch, an East Hampton attorney who was disbarred in August, was indicted in September on six felony charges, including four counts of grand larceny. It is alleged that he stole more than $500,000 from clients and fellow attorneys. He is scheduled to go back in front of Justice Camacho next Thursday. 

Luis Eduardo Valladares, also known to Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents as Luis Eduardo Valladares Arias, was picked up by ICE agents on a deportation warrant, according to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, on Dec. 15. He had been arrested by East Hampton Village police on charges of criminal contempt for allegedly violating a court order of protection in place for his wife, as well as criminal mischief for reportedly smashing the driver’s-side mirror on her S.U.V. on Nov. 29. Both charges were misdemeanors. ICE, after being notified, sent out a detainer request, as well as the warrant.