The woman who police said drove through an art show on the downtown green in Montauk in the overnight hours last June and was subsequently charged with driving while intoxicated has been offered a plea deal.
The Montauk Artists Association Art Show sustained over $100,000 in damages resulting in six counts of criminal mischief after Nicoly Ribeiro De Souza, 24, of Farmingville allegedly drove her Nissan Rogue into its tents at 3 a.m. on June 29.
In East Hampton Town Justice Court last Thursday, Ms. Ribeiro De Souza was offered three years of probation after the court examined a pre-plea report prepared by a probation officer.
East Hampton Town Justice Steve Tekulsky seemed unmoved by the claims of remorse by Ms. Ribeiro De Souza in the report, saying she had “minimized” her alcohol use.
“This is a 23-year-old woman who did a tremendous amount of damage,” Justice Tekulsky said last week. He said if she pleaded guilty he would sentence her to probation. All the charges that she faced were misdemeanors.
Justice Tekulsky added that the pre-plea report indicated that Ms. Ribeiro De Souza may have fallen asleep at the wheel, to which he took umbrage. “She was clearly intoxicated . . . she didn’t just have two beers,” he said.
Although her attorney, Natasja V. Bellinger, had initially asked for only one year of probation, she asked last week for two years. That was denied by Justice Tekulsky.
If she accepts the terms of the plea deal, she will be convicted of driving while intoxicated and one count of criminal mischief, both misdemeanors.
Keith O’Brien, the Suffolk County assistant district attorney, asked that the court deny any further adjournments of the case. He also told the court that Ms. Ribeiro De Souza would not be required to pay restitution.
She is due back in court on May 28 and could be formally sentenced in June.
