Attorney For Spring Valley 'Fixed' Tickets: Rockland DA

NEW CITY, NY – Spring Valley's special prosecutor was charged Tuesday with official misconduct, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe announced. He is accused of 'fixing' tickets by giving false documents to the village justice, as directed by a former village trustee.

Lawrence Weissman, a Sloatsburg resident and attorney with offices in West Nyack, was appointed as Special Prosecutor by the village's Board of Trustees in early 2016 to handle the prosecution of traffic tickets, as well as zoning violations.

According to the charges, former Spring Valley Trustee Vilair Fonvil recommended Weissman for the position.

Weissman is accused of committing official misconduct by submitting false documentation to the village judge in order to justify giving favorable plea dispositions at the behest of Fonvil, whom attended plea negotiation sessions, met with individuals facing traffic charges and occasionally directed Weissman as to how to dispose of those charges, Zugibe said.

The arrest is the result of a lengthy investigation by the Public Corruption Task Force, a joint investigative unit for the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI.

Weissman, 56, faces one count of Official Misconduct, a class "A" Misdemeanor.

“Integrity is the foundation of our justice system," Zugibe said. "These allegations only serve to undermine public trust in our courts. No one should be allowed to ‘fix’ any part of a case, no matter how small the offense.”

Weissman is scheduled to be arraigned June 5 in the Village of Spring Valley Justice Court.

He faces one year in jail if convicted.

This case is being prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Richard Kennison Moran.

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