Nicoly Ribeiro De Souza, the 23-year-old accused of driving under the influence into the Montauk Artists Association Art Show early on the morning of June 29 and causing $100,000 worth of damage, was ordered Wednesday by East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky to retain private counsel before her next appearance in Justice Court.
Ms. Ribeiro De Souza had told the court last month that she was unable to afford an attorney due to “changes in her circumstances” since her arrest, and said she would ask Legal Aid to reconsider her eligibility for its services. She returned to court yesterday without an attorney, and said that a Legal Aid attorney was supposed to meet her there.
Laura Gretz, a staff attorney for Legal Aid, who was in court to represent other defendants, told Justice Tekulsky that her supervisor had informed her of “discrepancies” in the information provided by Ms. Ribeiro De Souza, and that they could not represent her.
“This is a very serious case,” Justice Tekulsky told the defendant. He set Sept. 17 as her next appearance date.