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Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney

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Jose Romero

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on April 13 that Jose Romero, 34, of Centereach, pleaded guilty to Rape in the First Degree for having sexual intercourse with a 6-year-old child.

“This defendant preyed upon the innocence and vulnerability of a young child to satisfy his own heinous desires,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Thankfully, she had the courage to come forward and testify in the Grand Jury so that the defendant could be brought to justice. This plea ensures that the young victim will not be re-victimized by being forced to face her abuser again in court.”

According to the investigation and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, in October 2021, Romero had sexual intercourse with the 6-year-old victim, and then gave the victim pocket change and told her not to tell her parents about what he had done to her.

Despite Romero’s attempt to conceal his crime, the child victim immediately disclosed the abuse to her parents who contacted the police. The victim was brought to Stony Brook University Hospital where a sexual assault nurse examiner recovered DNA evidence linking Romero to the crime.

On April 12, 2023, Romero pleaded guilty before County Court Judge, the Honorable Judge Karen M. Wilutis, to Rape in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony. Judge Wilutis ordered Romero held without bail. Romero faces 12 years in prison plus 10 years of post-release supervision and be registered as a sex offender upon sentencing. He is due back in court for sentencing on May 12, 2023.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.
Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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Angela Pollina. Photo from SCPD
Co-Defendant Michael Valva previously Sentenced to 25 Years to Life

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on April 11 that Angela Pollina, 45, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after a jury found her guilty last month of Murder in the Second Degree and other related charges, for her role in the death of her stepson, 8-year-old Thomas Valva, who died of hypothermia in 2020 after Thomas and his 10-year-old brother were forced to sleep in an unheated car garage in below-freezing temperatures.

“This case and the trials that ensued were not only heartbreaking, but they were also infuriating,” said District Attorney Tierney. “As I’ve said before, while the story of these two defendants ends here, the pursuit of justice for Thomas and Anthony is not over.”

The evidence at trial established that Pollina consciously disregarded the wellbeing of her stepsons Thomas and Anthony, and that disregard led to Thomas’ death on the morning of January 17, 2020. For months leading up to Thomas’ death, text messages were exchanged between Pollina and her fiancé Michael Valva, 45, the boys’ father, which showed Pollina’s insistence that the boys sleep in the garage of their Center Moriches home and not be allowed to use the bathrooms inside.

At Pollina’s insistence, Thomas and Anthony were forced to sleep in the garage without blankets for months prior to the incident. The night before Thomas died, he and his brother had been in the garage for 16 hours since returning from school and spent the night there with no heat, no bathroom access, no mattress, and no blankets while in 19-degree weather. Because he was freezing to death, the next morning, Thomas had an accident and soiled his pants.

Evidence submitted from a home surveillance camera captured Pollina sitting in the kitchen doing her bills, well aware of Thomas’s condition and doing nothing to help care for him. When one of the other children asked why Thomas couldn’t walk, Pollina replied, “Cause he’s hypothermic, hypothermic means you’re freezing, washing yourself in cold water when it’s freezing outside, you get hypothermic.” The surveillance video also showed she watched Thomas being hosed down in the backyard with cold water, and took the time to reprimand his father for yelling because the neighbors might hear. Two hours later, Thomas was pronounced dead due to hypothermia.

According to his testimony at the trial, Homicide Detective Norberto Flores of the Suffolk County Police Department responded to the hospital and when he asked, “What happened?” Pollina fabricated a story that Thomas was running for the bus when he fell and hit his head.

Thomas and Anthony were living at the home with Pollina, Valva, a third brother, and Pollina’s three daughters since 2017. School employees of the East Moriches School District where Thomas and Anthony were enrolled, testified at trial that Thomas and Anthony appeared thin, ate food off the floor, took food from other children, and pulled half eaten food from the garbage. In addition, witnesses testified they would arrive at the school so soiled, that school employees could smell urine and feces on them.

During the defense case, Pollina took the stand and admitted she deleted footage taken from the home’s surveillance camera and that she did not realize that exiling the brothers to the freezing garage for months was wrong until after Thomas was pronounced dead at the hospital. She admitted that the way she disciplined the boys was “evil,” but claimed it was the boys’ father who caused Thomas’ death.

On March 10, 2023, Pollina was convicted after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Timothy P. Mazzei, for the crimes of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, and four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor. On April 11, 2023, Pollina was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. She was represented by Matthew Touhy, Esq.

On November 4, 2022, Pollina’s co-defendant and former fiancé Michael Valva, was found guilty of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, and four counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor. He is now serving 25 years to life in prison.

 

 

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Stock photo

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on March 27 that Glenn Seejattan, 30, of Rocky Point, was found guilty after a jury trial of Murder in the Second Degree for the fatal shooting of a Centereach man who was reported missing in January 2022.

Glenn Seejattan

“This was a senseless killing of a human being whose loved ones reported him missing with the expectation of seeing him again one day,” said District Attorney Tierney. “While there is nothing that will bring back the victim to his family, we are satisfied that we were able to find his killer, hold him accountable, especially now that a jury has found him guilty of his crimes.”

As established at trial, the family of Justin Lee, 34, of Centereach, reported that he had been missing since January 18, 2022. Lee was last seen alive at Seejattan’s mother’s home on Mahogany Road in Rocky Point, where Seejattan also lived. On January 28, 2022, ten days after he went missing, the half-naked, frozen body of Lee was discovered about a half mile away from Seejattan’s home. An autopsy revealed that Lee had sustained a gunshot wound to his head and a gunshot wound to his thigh.

Witness testimony, electronic surveillance, and DNA evidence inculpated Seejattan in Lee’s murder. Within 20 feet of the Lee’s body were wood moldings that were damaged, and physically matched damage found within Seejattan’s home on Mahogany Road. Additionally, items were forensically tested revealing the presence of blood and matched the DNA profile of Lee. Lee’s DNA was also found on a wall within Seejattan’s home. In addition, a trial witness testified that Seejattan admitted that he had shot and killed somebody in a house on Mahogany Road, which he described as a drug deal gone bad. Seejattan further admitted that he shot the victim in the head, took his clothes off, wrapped him up in a blanket, and took him to the woods. He also stated that he did not regret committing the murder but regretted doing it in the house.

Seejattan was convicted for the alleged crimes of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C felony. Seejattan committed the killing while released on bail for a separate indictment in which he was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C felony, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D violent felony, and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a Class E felony. That case is still pending.

Seejattan is due back in court for sentencing on April 26 and faces 25 years to life in prison.

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law

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John Mann IV

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced on March 17 that John Mann IV, age 20, of Centereach, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree for the premeditated fatal beating of Henry Hernandez, age 16, of Hempstead, whose skeletal remains were found in Centereach in March 2020.

“The violent end of this young victim’s life and the way his body was disposed of shows the coldhearted and brutal nature of the defendant,” said District Attorney Tierney. “What makes this murder even more sad is that the victim Henry was only 16 years old and had his whole life ahead of him.”

According to court documents and Mann’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on March 15, 2020, skeletal remains were discovered in a plastic tub on the property of Mann IV’s neighbor. The remains were wrapped in two separate plastic bags. When the skeletal remains were further examined, it was discovered that the hands and feet were bound with duct tape, and the head and mouth were wrapped in duct tape. DNA tests determined that the skeletal remains were that of 16- year-old Henry Hernandez.

A subsequent police investigation established that Mann and Hernandez became acquaintances in March 2019. A short time later, Hernandez went to Mann’s home located on Jay Road in Centereach and stole his father’s truck. On or around June 2, 2019, Mann lured Hernandez to a location known as the “Sand Pit,” where he duct-taped the victim and struck him multiple times with a blunt object. Mann placed Hernandez’s body in a hole on his property and covered it with debris. The defendant later moved Hernandez’ skeletal remains into a plastic tub and placed it on his next-door neighbor’s property, where it was ultimately recovered on March 15, 2020.

On March 17, 2023, Mann pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Anthony S. Senft, Jr., to Manslaughter in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony and Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E felony. He is due back in court on April 19, 2023 for sentencing, and is expected to be sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years’ of post-release supervision.

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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Jonathan Nunez

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on March 13 that Jonathan Nunez, 27, was sentenced to 16 years in prison followed by five years of postrelease supervision for stabbing and seriously injuring a Suffolk County Police Officer in 2021 after an attempted traffic stop.

“Police officers are subjected to threats and danger on the job every time they show up for work. When an honest hardworking police officer is attacked, it’s an attack on our community and order,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This defendant showed no respect for the law, the victim he crashed into nor the officer who attempted to stop him from doing even more damage, and now he will be serving a lengthy prison sentence for his actions.”

On February 6, 2023, Nunez pleaded guilty before County Court Judge, the Honorable Stephen L. Braslow, to each of the charges in the indictment: One count of Aggravated Assault of a Police Officer, a Class B violent felony; One count of Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony; One count of Assault on a Police Officer, a Class C violent felony; Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony; One count of Assault in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; One count of Resisting Arrest, a Class A misdemeanor; 2 One count of Reckless Driving, an Unclassified misdemeanor; One count of Leaving the Scene of an MVA with Injury, a misdemeanor; and One count of Driving While Impaired by Drugs, an unclassified misdemeanor.

According to court documents and the defendant’s statements at his guilty plea allocution, Suffolk County Police Officer Christopher Racioppo observed a vehicle being driven in an erratic manner and with its lights off on South Ocean Avenue in Patchogue on April 10, 2021, at approximately 10:30 p.m. When Officer Racioppo activated his emergency lights in an attempt to pull the vehicle over, Nunez, the driver, sped away and the officer pursued him. Nunez subsequently crashed into another vehicle at a high rate of speed, totaling both vehicles and causing minor injury to the other driver. Nunez then exited his vehicle and, despite directives from Officer Racioppo to stop, he fled on foot. Officer Racioppo chased Nunez into a backyard where Nunez stabbed Officer Racioppo in his upper left leg, severing his femoral artery. Witnesses and other responding officers at the scene were able to restrain Nunez and render lifesaving aid to Officer Racioppo.

Officer Racioppo was in extremely critical condition after losing nearly his entire blood supply. He was first transported to Long Island Community Hospital and then brought to Stony Brook University Hospital. After being intubated, Officer Racioppo underwent life-saving blood transfusions and surgery. On March 13, 2023, Judge Braslow sentenced Nunez to 16 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.

Below is the original press release:

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Feb. 6 the guilty plea of Jonathan Nunez, 27, of Centereach for stabbing and seriously injuring a Suffolk County Police Officer in 2021 after an attempted traffic stop.

“This is yet another stark reminder of the dangers that our police officers face every day. This defendant admitted that he nearly killed a police officer who was merely conducting a simple traffic stop,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Fortunately, this officer did not lose his life, but he was seriously injured and had to undergo surgery and blood transfusions in order to stay alive, and all because he was just doing his job.”

On February 6,  Nunez pleaded guilty to each of the charges in the indictment, namely: One count of Aggravated Assault of a Police Officer, a Class B violent felony; One count of Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony; One count of Assault on a Police Officer, a Class C violent felony; Two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony; One count of Assault in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; One count of Resisting Arrest, a Class A misdemeanor; One count of Reckless Driving, an Unclassified misdemeanor; 2 One count of Leaving the Scene of an MVA with Injury, a misdemeanor; and One count of Driving While Impaired by Drugs, an Unclassified misdemeanor.

According to court documents and the defendant’s statements at his guilty plea allocution, Suffolk County Police Officer Christopher Racioppo observed a vehicle being driven in an erratic manner and with its lights off, on South Ocean Avenue in Patchogue on April 10, 2021, at approximately 10:30 p.m. When Officer Racioppo activated his emergency lights in an attempt to pull the vehicle over, Nunez, the driver, sped away and the officer pursued him. Nunez subsequently crashed into another vehicle at a high rate of speed, totaling both vehicles and causing minor injury to the other driver.

Nunez then exited his vehicle and, despite directives from Officer Racioppo to stop, he fled on foot. Officer Racioppo chased Nunez into a backyard where Nunez stabbed Officer Racioppo in his upper left leg, severing his femoral artery. Witnesses and other responding officers at the scene were able to restrain Nunez and render lifesaving aid to Officer Racioppo. Officer Racioppo was in extremely critical condition after losing nearly his entire blood supply.

He was first transported to Long Island Community Hospital and then brought to Stony Brook University Hospital. After being intubated, Officer Racioppo underwent life-saving blood transfusions and surgery. Nunez is due back in court on March 13, 2023, and is expected to be sentenced to 16 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.

Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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Pixabay photo

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Jan. 26 the indictment of Jordan Dekie, 21, of Huntington, and Emily Tague, 19, of Northport, for their roles in a failed plot to allegedly rob and murder a Huntington Station man.

“These two individuals not only allegedly tried to steal the victim’s belongings, but they also tried to rob him of his life,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This cowardly and heinous act of violence will not be tolerated in Suffolk County, and as such, these individuals will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

As detailed in court filings, on the evening of December 12, 2022, the victim picked up both Dekie and Tague in his Dodge Charger, and headed to Dekie’s home in Huntington where he intended to drop them off. After arriving at Dekie’s home, the three sat idly in the victim’s car. A short time later, Dekie signaled to Tague, who then allegedly stabbed the victim in the chest with a knife. Dekie, who also had a knife, allegedly attempted to forcibly remove the victim’s lanyard containing his car keys from his neck, and then proceeded to stab the victim multiple times. The victim was able to wrestle the knife out of Dekie’s hand and escape from the vehicle. Both defendants then fled the scene.

The victim, while severely injured, drove home and called 911. Shortly thereafter, units from the Suffolk County Police Department and an ambulance arrived at the scene and rendered aid. The victim was transported to Huntington Hospital and received treatment for his injuries. Dekie and Tague were arrested at their homes a few days later.

Members of the Suffolk County Police Department obtained numerous text messages between Dekie and Tague allegedly outlining their plan to rob and murder the victim. Additionally, Tague’s hairbrush was recovered from the victim’s vehicle.

Dekie and Tague are both charged with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class B violent felony; Conspiracy in the Second Degree, a Class B felony; and Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony.

                                       Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.                                             Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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Paris Fyall

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced Dec. 14 that a Coram man, Paris Fyall, was found guilty of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

“This defendant was already both a registered sex offender based upon a prior sex crime against a child and on parole for a violent robbery conviction when he once again decided to victimize a child,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I am thankful for the jury’s decision as it will provide something that our broken parole system is clearly incapable of providing – a small measure of justice for the victim and protection for the rest of the community from further crimes of this defendant.”

According to court filings, Fyall, 37, sexually abused the victim repeatedly for over a period of four-and-a-half months, while the victim was between the ages of 10 and 11. The abuse took place while the victim’s mother was at work and while her sister was out of the room.

Fyall, who is already a Level 3 Sex Offender stemming from a 2004 conviction for Attempted Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, was out on parole at the time of this crime following a 2010 conviction for Robbery in the First Degree. 2 Fyall was required to wear a GPS monitor as a condition of his parole. Prosecutors and police were able to gather evidence which showed him at the location of the sexual abuse while the victim’s mother was at work.

Fyall was found guilty today after a jury trial that lasted two weeks. He is due back in court on January 20, 2023 for sentencing. As a result of Fyall’s prior convictions, he faces a minimum sentence of 20 years to life in prison.

### Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

On Nov. 14 Suffolk District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney  announced the indictment of Douglas Valente who is charged with two counts of Grand Larceny for allegedly stealing more than $425,000 from two of his clients.  

 “This defendant allegedly breached his fiduciary duty to his clients by stealing money that was supposed to be held in trust in his attorney escrow account,” said DA Tierney. “As a result of an extensive investigation done by my office, the defendant will be held accountable for these deceitful actions.”  

Valente, 56, the principal attorney at the Valente Law Group based in Stony Brook is alleged to have stolen more than $425,000 from his attorney escrow account over a 6-month period in 2020. He is charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree.  

According to the investigation, between April 14, 2020 through May 31, 2020, Valente is alleged to have stolen $181,201.67 from a 78-year-old client.  Valente represented the elderly woman in the sale of her home and the proceeds of the sale were put into Valente’s escrow account.

Valente was required to send half of the proceeds to his client and the other half was to be sent to her matrimonial attorney to be held in escrow until her divorce was finalized.  Although Valente did send half of the proceeds to his client, he allegedly failed to send the remaining half of the proceeds to her attorney in the matrimonial proceeding.   As a result, when his client’s divorce was finalized, she was unable to obtain the remaining proceeds from the sale of her house.  

During the time period of September 28, 2020 through October 13, 2020, Valente is alleged to have stolen $248,027.84 from Guaranteed Rate Inc., a mortgage lender.   Valente was the attorney and settlement agent for Guaranteed Rate Inc. in a refinance transaction. Guaranteed Rate Inc. wired money to Valente’s escrow account to be dispersed.   The defendant was supposed to send a portion of the proceeds of the refinanced mortgage to the prior mortgage company to pay off the existing mortgage and he allegedly failed to do so.   Because of this, Guaranteed Rate Inc. had to pay off the existing mortgage in the amount of $248,027.84.  Valente allegedly used the funds belonging to both clients on his own personal and business expenses. 

Valente surrendered to the District Attorney’s Office this morning and he was arraigned by the Honorable Richard Ambro in County Court in Riverhead.   His offenses are considered non-bail eligible under New York State law, so he was ordered to surrender his passport released on his own recognizance.   Valente is being represented by John Carman, Esq. Valente is due back in court on December 14.

If you believe you have been victimized by Douglas Valente, please call the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at (631) 853-5602.       

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Donna Planty of the Financial Crimes Bureau.

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File photo
Marcello Molinari

On June 29, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the murder sentence of a 44-year-old Centereach man, Marcello Molinari, who allegedly stabbed his wife to death and then disposed her body in the Long Island Pine Barrens last November.

“The sentence handed down in court today cannot possibly ameliorate the pain this defendant inflicted upon the victim and her family,” said Tierney. “However, this jail term can ensure that the defendant will be unable to further endanger the community for a substantial period of time.”

Molinari pleaded guilty on May 20, 2022 to Murder in the Second Degree. He was sentenced before Suffolk Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro.

According to court documents and Molinari’s statements, on November 2, 2021, Molinari, his wife Melissa and their children aged 4, 12, 14 and 17 were on family vacation at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, when Molinari became aware that his wife was having an extramarital affair. The vacation was cut short and they drove back to their home in Centereach on or about November 5, 2021.  Melissa was last seen alive on November 21, 2021 and was reported missing by a friend, on December 2, 2021.

A search conducted by members of the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County Crime Laboratory and Identification Section of the minivan revealed several questionable stains in the minivan.  In addition, a cadaver dog conducted a search of the van which revealed a positive hit for a cadaver at two locations. Molinari consented to the search of his cellular telephone which revealed searches for terms such as “non-extradition countries” and “culpable”, along with nine months’ worth of data deleted. Further analysis revealed GPS coordinates on his phone which corresponded with a location on a dead end street in the Pine Barrens, Middle Island, New York in the early morning hours of November 22, 2021.  Molinari was arrested after a search of that location by cadaver dogs found Melissa Molinari’s body wrapped in garbage bags and duct tape.  The autopsy revealed that the decedent had been stabbed 58 times.

He was represented by Christopher Gioe.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Laura Newcombe and Assistant District Attorney Eric Aboulafia of the Homicide Bureau.

 

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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