Northport Court Report

Criminal Cases
A 29-year-0ld Northport resident, Gregory Greathouse, appeared in Northport Village Court Monday to face charges in three separate cases.

Ultimately, he pleaded guilty to one charge of second-degree criminal contempt (Penal Law (PL) 215.50 (03)), one charge of resisting arrest (PL 205.30), and one charge of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree (PL 265.01 (02)).

These charges were all on the second docket and stemmed from an incident that took place at a Nautilus Avenue home Oct. 10, 2010.

On that date, he first violated an order of protection issued against him earlier that day by leaving a message on the woman's answer machine. He later refused to put his hands behind his back and twisted his legs and arms when the police were arresting him. He also possessed a razor that he intended to use against another.

Greathouse's sentencing was delayed until May 9 so a pre-sentence report could be filed; he is expected to be sentenced to three years probation at that time. New temporary orders of protection with regards to two women will be filed as well.

Allison Small, a 24-year-old Northport resident pleaded guilty to one charge of petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor listed under section 155.25 of the state penal law code. The incident in question took place at a Scudder Avenue address at 2:35 PM on Nov. 24, 2010. In court, the defendant confessed to taking property belonging to the property owner with the intent to deprive that owner of the material permanently.

Small, who is currently in treatment at a drug-abuse treatment facility in upstate New York, was sentenced to one year of interim probation, with the understanding that the charge would be reduced to a non-criminal disorderly conduct violation with an unconditional discharge March 12, 2012, so long as a pre-sentence report filed for that date was deemed acceptable. Small's probation contains a special alcohol and narcotics condition, preventing her from using those substances over the duration of her probation.

Thomas Murphy, a 51-year-old Northport resident, pleaded guilty to one charge of disorderly conduct. The charge stemmed from a Feb. 10 incident where he urinated into a snowbank near the along Scudder Avenue. An eyewitness testimony read at the trial stated that after Murphy finished, he walked down the street with his private parts exposed. Murphy, who had to be admonished for his behavior in court by Judge Paul Senzer, was sentenced to a $100 fine (with a $125 surcharge). He was given a May 23 deadline for payment.

 John Nullmeyer, 43, was arraigned in Northport court on one charge of aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle in the third degree (VTL 0511) and one charge of failure to change his address on his license (VTL 0505). He was arrested on the charges on January 30. Nullmeyer's arraignment was delayed multiple times as he is being held in Suffolk County jail on separate . His next appearance in Northport court was scheduled for April 11 after his March 23 appearance in Suffolk court was taken into account.

Denise Knudsen appeared in court to face one charge of aggravated harassment and one charge of harassment. Upon receiving proof of the defendant's presence in psychiatric treatment, the court adjourned Knudsen's case until March 12 of next year. If Knudsen does not violate the law between now and then, her case will be dismissed and sealed without her presence needed. Temporary orders of protection against her filed by her husband and children were vacated by Judge Senzer.

The case of Martin A. Rosenberg was adjourned to March 28 in order to allow Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Mays to provide Rosenberg's attorney, Steven Christiansen, with a 911 call related to the case. A trial date for Rosenberg will be set on that date.

Non-Criminal Cases/Traffic Cases
Richard Polenz, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of a reduced charge of facilitating the unlicensed use of a motor vehicle (VTL 511-A1). The incident in question took place along Ocean Avenue at 2:30 AM last December 9. Polenz was sentenced to a conditional discharge, with the condition being that he would not drive until his currently-suspended license was restored. He was also sentenced to a $500 fine (with an $85 surcharge) with a pay-by date of on or before May 16.

John M. Galliard and Derek J. Hirsch had their speeding tickets reduced to 1201-A parking violations. They were each sentenced to a $100 fine without a surcharge.

Catherine B. Wilson appeared in court on charges of leaving the scene of a traffic accident (VTL 0600). She asked for another extension so she could attempt to hire a lawyer, although she was having trouble paying for one. Judge Senzer informed her that he could not hire her a lawyer because it was a traffic infraction. Her court date was rescheduled to April 11. Judge Senzer told Wilson that she would be forced to represent herself if she could not find a lawyer by then.

Juan Jimenez-Paulino, who appeared in court with the assistance of a crutch, had a registration violation charge against him dropped. ADA Mays told the Judge that the DA's office did not think they could get a conviction on account of the car being destroyed in an accident soon after the incident.

Chris Devol appeared before the judge on a charge that he did not have adequate insurance on a 1997 Chevrolet. He said he could prove the insurance by next week. A suspension on his license was lifted after he paid $70. 

With preliminary jurisdiction over felonies and general trial jurisdiction over misdemeanors, traffic infractions and local ordinance violations, Village Court is in session every Monday at 7 p.m. except state holidays in . The Clerk’s Office is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and can be reached by calling 757-0935.

Other helpful numbers:

• Suffolk County District Attorney (criminal, traffic & all state offenses): (631) 853-7500
• Northport Village Prosecuting Attorney - Karen Kerr, Esq. (local ordinance matters): (631) 271-7560
• Suffolk County Legal Aid Society: (631) 853-5212
• Suffolk County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Information Service: (631) 234-5511