Inside the Tarrytown Courthouse: Defendant 'Jerking' Around the Court, One Letter Key in Impersonation Charge

Here's a look at some of the cases that came before the during its February 9, 2011 session.

TASC Calls Laruso's Bluff

Lia Larusso and Quincy McQuaid are both facing charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance stemming from a Nov. 19 arrest.

On Wednesday, it was determined that McQuaid has been following court mandates to seek evaluations through the Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities (TASC) program. However, Larusso has not be following through on the same court order.

She wasn't in court on Wednesday, but her lawyer said she had a problem going to TASC because she didn't have a driver's license, which apparently went missing along with her cell phone after she was arrested. Because she didn't have a driver's license, her attorney argued she couldn't get government help paying for her evaluation.

However, a representative from TASC said that a valid license wasn't needed  to go to an evaluation, saying that anything from a social security number to a birth certificate would work.

"I think she's been jerking us around a bit," the representative said.

The court agreed and noted that if Larusso didn't make contact with TASC she would be remanded to jail next week.

Not Guilty Pleas Entered for Underage Drinkers

Six individuals arrested in late January for underage drinking offenses and endangering the welfare of two young children all entered not guilty pleas. You can read the full story about

The court ordered all the arrested to receive an evaluation through TASC. Each defendant was also issued an order of protection to stay away from the two children, age 11 and 13, who were at the party when police made the arrests.

Steen's Defense – It Wasn't Me

Darrell Steen, 30, was in court on Wednesday on charges of criminal impersonation, aggravated unlicensed operation and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Steen was arrested earlier this week on a warrant. He apparently had two warrants out for his arrest and three failures to appear in local courts.

The man's lawyer said that some of Steen's troubles stemmed from the fact that his brother, named Darnell, also has a criminal record and that Darrell could have been fingered for crimes his twin brother committed. He said that the two similar names were probably the reason for the charge of criminal impersonation. 

"Their names are different by one letter," Steen's attorney said. "It's possible it was a mistake on the part of the arresting officer."

While that may be an excuse for the impersonation charge, Assistant District Attorney Robert Docherty said that it was unlikely the court had confused Steen's arrest record.

"Entries on a rap sheet are based on fingerprint records," Docherty said.

"Even twins have separate fingerprints," Village Justice Kyle McGovern said.

Bail for Steen was set at $25,000 cash and $50,000 bond due to his "disregard" for the orders of the court. He will be back in court next week.

Deal Reached in EF Student Case

Marcos Fernandez-Fontans, 18, pled guilty and had his charges reduced on Wednesday.

The former EF student was by the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force in August on suspicion of selling cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana and providing alcohol to fellow underage peers at .

Fernandez-Fontans was originally charged with three counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree on a school ground, two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree and one count of Criminal Sale of Marijuana in the Fifth Degree.

Fontans pled guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree, a misdemeanor, for selling ecstasy. He will come back on April 6, 2011 for sentencing. If he stays out of trouble he will be given a fine and surcharge totalling $705.

Justice McGovern said that part of the reason the man's sentence was reduced was due to his compliance with court mandates and treatment.

Court is in session Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.