By Erik German
Newsday (New York)
Copyright 2007 Newsday, Inc.
SELDEN, N.Y. — Two sitting Selden fire commissioners charged with taking part in stealing $52,000 of taxpayer funds are set to resign at tonight’s fire district board meeting, district officials said.
Commissioners James Spatafora and Joseph Parente, along with three former commissioners also facing grand larceny charges, must pay restitution but are not likely to face prison, according to Suffolk prosecutors.
“Our primary focus is getting them to pay the money back,” District Attorney Thomas Spota said.
No such deal appears to be on the table for Terri Gaines, the former secretary/treasurer accused of stealing more than $500,000 from the Montauk Fire District, an amount her attorney disputes. Gaines, charged with one count of second-degree grand larceny, faces a maximum sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison. Her attorney, James McElhone of Miller Place, said prosecutors yesterday moved to seize her assets for repayment. “They’re not looking to put her out of her home but they have put a lien on her house,” McElhone said. “They’re looking for any other assets she might own. “
Still facing jail is East Moriches Community Ambulance president Alan Crane, accused of stealing $6,500 in district funds and lying on false receipts. Crane pleaded not guilty to one count of third-degree grand larceny, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of 2 1/3 to 7 years, and one count of false filing, a felony with a maximum sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years. His lawyer, Charles Rosen of Hauppauge, didn’t return a call for comment.
Attorneys said that the outcome likely facing the Selden five is not unusual for first-time offenders accused of nonviolent crimes. “They basically made mistakes and now they’re going to make it right,” said Keith O’Halloran, their Garden City attorney. “Of course, our position would be any sort of jail sentence would be unnecessary.”