Inside the Courthouse: Gum Thief Guilty, New DWI Law in Effect

Here's a look at what happened during Scarsdale Court's May 12 session. Court is in session every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.

7-Eleven Thief Pleads Guilty, Will Spend 30 Days Behind Bars           

Frank Fraioli, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to petit larceny after trying to steal three boxes of gum from the 7-Eleven on Garth Road. Fraioli made his first appearance after spending 30 days in an upstate drug rehab facility.

Judge John Galloway said the Yonkers resident will likely be sentenced to 30 days of "shock probation", in which the convict is incarcerated for only a few days at a time. He will also be sentenced to a $200 fine and three years of probation.

The sentencing was put off until August 25 in order for Fraioli's counselors to put together a pre-sentencing report.

Hampton Road Case Drags On

Exposed wires, broken windows, and rusted out 40-year-old cars are certainly more characteristic of homes in, say, Detroit than of those in Scarsdale.

However, Miriam Kahn's Hampton Road home does fit this bill, and neighbors have been complaining about its unsightliness for months.

Kahn, an elderly woman who currently lives in an apartment on Garth Road, is facing a bevy of civil charges as a result of the neglect. If convicted of the charges, Kahn could owe the village tens of thousands of dollars.

However, village officials say they have no intention of slapping Kahn with the fines, but they want the home sold to someone who will maintain it. Kahn's sister, who has accompanied the homeowner on her dozen or so trips to court this year, said they are talking to prospective buyers and looking to end the ordeal soon.

On Wednesday the case was adjourned, yet again, to May 26.

Trial Date Set for Young Scarsdale Man            

Justin Blumenthal, 21, of Scarsdale is facing charges of disorderly conduct, misdemeanor harassment and resisting arrest after a March incident for which details were unavailable at press time. Blumenthal pleaded not guilty to the charges.

On Wednesday Judge Galloway ordered that Blumenthal be fingerprinted by Scarsdale Police, and set a June 23 non-jury trial date.

New Ignition Interlock Law for DWI Convicts

A new state law mandates that a person convicted of aggravated DWI must install an ignition interlock device in his or her car. Drunken drivers are charged with aggravated DWI when they're arrested with a suspended or revoked license, or if a child under 15 years of age is in the car.

An ignition interlock device is essentially a breathalyzer hooked up to the car's ignition. A driver must blow into the device and show a blood-alcohol level less than 0.04 in order for the car to start.

On Wednesday a drunken driver was convicted on the aggravated charges, because he had a suspended license when he was arrested in October, and became one of the first people in the village mandated to install the interlock system.

The device costs between $100 and $200 to install, depending on the car, and usually carries a rental fee of $50 to $100 a month.