An East Hampton woman had run-ins with police in both East Hampton and Southampton Towns last week, both leading to felony charges.
Madeline Tavernier, 32, was arrested by East Hampton police on Feb. 25 after they say she destroyed another person’s iPhone 15 by “slamming” it onto a truck bed in the parking lot of 44 Three Mile Harbor Road — the current home of Frankie’s Fabulous Italiano.
Police said that because the damage to the phone was in excess of $600, they charged her with criminal mischief in the third degree, a felony that carries as many as four years in prison.
That was minor compared to the charges she would face in Southampton.
Although she was released on her own recognizance last Thursday by East Hampton Town Justice David Filer, Southampton police picked her up that same day on felony grand larceny charges.
According to Southampton police, Ms. Tavernier’s former employer alerted them in January that a company credit card and a personal credit card had been used for nearly $17,000 in online purchases over the summer. In a press release, Southampton police said Ms. Tavernier used the cards on various websites starting in July.
After a nearly two-month-long investigation, police charged Ms. Tavernier with grand larceny in the third degree. The charges carry a varied sentencing guideline which spans from probation to seven years in prison.
Ms. Tavernier was arraigned in Southampton Town Justice Court, where she was released on her own recognizance. She is due back in court on April 14.
Separately, East Hampton Village police arrested a Mastic man Friday night on a felony charge related to the removal of his vehicle’s identification number.
According to reports, Jose Munoz, 47, was pulled over on Woods Lane when officers said they noticed one of his headlights was out. When they noticed the Toyota Tundra’s VIN plate was missing and the trailer he was hauling was not registered, they charged him with the felony. He was additionally charged with seven violations and released on an appearance ticket. He is due in court on March 18.
