Stay-Away Order After Alleged Attack

A man involved in an alleged domestic violence incident in Montauk faces multiple charges, including two felonies.

Steven Washburn, 61, was arraigned in East Hampton Town Justice Court last Thursday on charges including two felony counts of criminal mischief. According to East Hampton Town police, he arrived at the West Lake Drive residence he was sharing with Loraine DeRose at about 7:30 the evening before and an argument became physical. Police said he grabbed her hair and threw her down.

The woman’s daughter, Brielle Rockett, was in the house with her fiancé, Jake Hagen. When Ms. Rockett intervened, Ms. DeRose told police, Mr. Washburn attacked her as well. Ms. Rockett told police Mr. Washburn had her by the throat. Mr. Hagen corroborated the women’s statements. During the altercation, a bedroom door was damaged.

While Mr. Hagen phoned police, Ms. Rockett went out to her Chevrolet pickup, which was blocking Mr. Washburn’s truck in the driveway. He got into his truck and rammed it into the rear of hers, she told police, then ran toward her vehicle. She said she locked its doors, upon which he went back to his truck and rammed the pickup again. Questioned about it, Mr. Washburn told police that “he was trying to leave the driveway, and [the Chevrolet] was in the way.”

He was charged with two counts of felony criminal mischief, one for the alleged ramming and the other for the damage to the door, as well as misdemeanor reckless endangerment. He also faces charges of harassment for the alleged physical contact with the women.

At his arraignment the next morning, East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky asked about the Litchfield, Conn., address on Mr. Washburn’s license. He answered that he has several residences in Montauk, though the court had to probe to determine where he was actually living. “There does appear to be some criminal history,” Justice Tekulsky said, involving out-of-state incidents, though he did not say what. He issued stay-away orders of protection for the two women and warned Mr. Washburn to have no contact whatever with either, including through social media.

Rudy Migliore Jr., an assistant county district attorney, asked that bail be set at $5,000. Matt D’Amato of the Legal Aid Society asked that it be set at $3,000, which, he said, Mr. Washburn could immediately post. “He gave the court vague answers as to where he lives,” Justice Tekulsky observed, setting bail at $4,000. Mr. D’Amato asked the court to have police take Mr. Washburn to a bank so he could withdraw the additional sum. “This is not a limousine service,” Justice Tekulsky responded.

Bail was posted at the courthouse, and Mr. Washburn was released.