Bookkeeper Admits to Theft

A former bookkeeper and teacher’s aid at the Rainbow Preschool in Bridgehampton was charged with stealing more than $35,000 from the school. Lauren E. Comber, 30, of Sag Harbor turned herself in to Southampton Town police on Nov. 10. 

Southampton Town detectives had investigated a series of transactions Ms. Comber made between November 2012 and early 2014, while working for the school on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike. 

After her arrest, she was taken to county court in Riverside and was formally arraigned in the courtroom of New York State Supreme Court Justice Stephen L. Braslow on a charge of grand larceny in the third degree. Following her arraignment, in a deal negotiated by her lawyer, Dan Russo, she was allowed to plead guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree, a lesser charge, but still a felony.

Her sentencing is scheduled for November 2016. She will be on probation until then. She has paid restitution to the preschool, though it is not clear how much she has paid back. Mr. Russo did not return a call for comment. 

A Springs man was arrested early on Nov. 6, charged with felony assault, for allegedly slashing the face of a houseguest the night before with a razor. He was also charged with harassment. Police said he beat the male guest, punching him many times in the face. Jacob Schwartz, 20, spent five days in county jail after his arrest, unable to post the $1,500 bail set by East Hampton Town Justice Lisa R. Rana. 

He was released under state law, because he had not been indicted on the felony charge within five days, as required, although the matter can still be brought before a grand jury at any time.

According to the police, Mr. Schwartz had been admitted to Covenant House in the city in late October, where he met Barry Cruise Tune, 19. “We became best buds,” Mr. Tune is quoted as telling police in his statement. “We smoked weed and drank some beer.” 

According to Mr. Tune’s statement, as well as Mr. Schwartz’s, made before he was arrested on the morning of Nov. 6, Mr. Schwartz was expelled from the halfway house just days after being admitted. “I got kicked out of the shelter because I stole food from a delivery guy, and had a fight with another tenant,” Mr. Schwartz is quoted as telling detectives.

Mr. Tune told police he left Covenant House to be with Mr. Schwartz, saying that the two lived on the streets of New York for a couple of days before taking the Jitney to East Hampton, to stay at Mr. Schwartz’s mother’s house on Hand’s Creek Road on Nov. 4. 

The next day, after being told that he would not be able to stay at the Schwartz residence any longer, Mr. Tune became upset, and began crying he told police. Mr. Schwartz then allegedly punched him several times to calm him down.

Eventually, they watched a movie on Ms. Schwartz’s television, smoking marijuana and drinking tequila. 

The two men’s accounts differ as to the events that followed. They were, at one point, in Mr. Schwartz’s room. Both men said the other made unwelcomed sexual advances.

“Jake went into a rage and began beating me with his fists,” Mr. Tune said. Mr. Schwartz admitted as much to police when he was questioned, saying “I got so mad I hit him with a closed fist six to eight times.”

“Jake grabbed me by the neck and my hair,” Mr. Tune continued. “He grabbed a cheap razor from the counter and sliced my cheek on the left side of my face,” police quoted Mr. Tune as saying.

According to Mr. Schwartz, however, the wound on Mr. Tune’s face was self-inflicted. 

Mr. Schwartz told police he then dragged Mr. Tune to the door “and threw him out of the house. My mom threw his bag and glasses outside, too.”

Mr. Tune ran to a neighbor’s house. While they would not let him in, they called 911, and police were soon there.

About six hours later, after making his statement to police, Mr. Schwartz was placed under arrest. 

Nakia R. Mabry of East Hampton is facing three misdemeanor charges after a domestic incident early Friday morning.  He was accused of choking a woman, then destroying her cellphone when she tried to call police. 

The incident occurred in a Springs-Fireplace Road house, near Spinner Lane, a little after midnight on Nov. 3. Police said that after choking the woman, whose name was not released by police, Mr. Mabry threw her to the ground.

East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky issued an order of protection for the alleged victim, telling Mr. Mabry that he must stay away from her. Bail was set at $250, which was posted.