Crimes Nearby: Motorcyclist Gets 3 to 9 Years in Prison for Death of Fiancée

EAST HAMPTON

•Matthew Byank, whose pregnant 19-year-old fiancée Lauren M. Parris died when he crashed his motorcycle in Amagansett two years ago while fleeing from police, was sentenced 3 to 9 years in state prison on Wednesday, the maximum under the cap the judge promised when Byank pleaded guilty in May.

Suffolk County Criminal Court Judge C. Randall Hinrichs handed down the sentence following an emotional morning in court on Wednesday. Lauren's family chastised Byank for his carelessness and Byank told the judge he loved Lauren deeply and was sorry.

• A pit bull that allegedly mauled to death a Shih Tzu in Springs last week will be euthanized on Wednesday, as its owner is being held responsible in court. Lola, a 7-year-old Shih Tzu, died instantly, her owner Wendy Marks said by phone, when a neighbor's pit bull got loose and attacked her dog on her Copeces Lane property on Thursday night at about 11:15 p.m.

Christine Hawkins, the owner of the pit bull, named Thunder, signed off on euthanasia. She had until Wednesday at 2 p.m., at which time a judge would have decided in a hearing at East Hampton Town Justice Court. Hawkins was also charged with four violations — having a dangerous dog, under the Agricultural and Markets law, and dog at large, property damage, and harassment by dog, all under the town code, according to court record.

Miller Place-Rocky Point

• Thomas Gonzalez, 39, of Sound Beach, was arrested July 9 and charged with grand larceny (property value greater than $1,000). Gonzalez allegedly stole money from his employer, United Chimney Corporation.

• Patsy Bellomo, 54, of Mt. Sinai, was arrested July 8 and charged with third degree assault with intent to cause physical injury. Bellomo allegedly punched someone in the face on Route 25A in Rocky Point.

• Michael O'Connell, 35, of Rocky Point, was arrested July 7 and charged with first-offense DWI. Police said O'Connell drove 75 mph in a 35 mph zone and ran a red light. He appeared to be intoxicated when stopped, according to police.


RIVERHEAD

• Brian Bifulco, 44, of Shirley, was arrested on July 10 and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, possession of a hypodermic instrument, and resisting arrest. Police responded to a call of someone asking for money at Burger King on Route 58, according to reports. Upon arrival police said they noticed someone running in the road, and when police stopped him he reportedly appeared under the influence of drugs.
Reports state Bifulco had a spoon with a burned bottom that he had dropped to the ground, and after Bifulco consented to a police search, police reportedly found five packages that appeared to be heroin inside his hat. He then fled on foot behind the Riverhead Car Wash, reports state, where he resisted arrest.
After he was apprehended, he was transported to police headquarters for processing

• Glen Marx, 49, of Miller Place, was arrested on July 12 and charged with DWI and leaving the scene of an accident. According to police records, Marx was seen pulling over a Chevrolet Suburban on E. Main Street downtown, in front of Cody's BBQ, when he backed into another car around 8:00 p.m. Police said he proceeded to drive off eastbound on E. Main Street, pull onto Maple Avenue, and was stopped in the Woolworth parking lot. After a roadside sobriety test, records show, Marx was taken to headquarters and charged. Police said the car Marx hit had minor scratches to its rear end.

• Riverhead Police arrested Kyle Stoddard on July 16 on felony charges of burglary in the third degree. Police arrested Stoddard after investigating a burglary at the Riverhead Middle School which occurred in October of 2011. Police responded to an incident on Oct. 29 of last year, after it was reported that two cafeteria windows were smashed with a brick and a register containing cash was stolen, as were two fire extinguishers.

WESTHAMPTON-HAMPTON BAYS

• Jowil A. Paulino, 23, Jamaica, was arrested July 14 at 8:44 p.m. in Hampton Bays and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third, fourth and seventh degrees, with the top charges being felonies and the latter being a misdemeanor. Police said Paulino stopped his vehicle in the middle of Dune Road, preventing traffic from safely passing. According to the arrest report, a strong odor of marijuana was emanating from the vehicle. In addition to possessing marijuana, he also had ecstasy and ketamine, police said. He was additionally charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, and standing on pavement, a traffic infraction.

• Douglas Gotay, 42, of Garnerville, was arrested July 15 at 10:19 a.m. on Dune Road in Hampton Bays and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, a felony, and DWI, a misdemeanor. Police said they responded to a 911 call of an erratic driver and located and pulled over Gotay.

• Darren Stein, 37, of Riverside, was arrested July 10 at 6:33 a.m. in Westhampton and charged with failure to register as a sex offender, a felony. Police said Stein was arrested at the homeless sex offender trailer in Westhampton after failing to register his address change.

SOUTHAMPTON

• Christopher Cooks, 30, of Bridgehampton, was arrested July 15 at 4:59 a.m. in Bridgehampton on Montauk Highway and charged with DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree, both misdemeanors. Police said Cooks backed into another vehicle and it was determined he was intoxicated.

• Larry A. Horton, 53, of Southampton, was arrested July 2 at 7:19 p.m. in Water Mill and charged with DWI, a misdemeanor, and refusing to submit to an “alert test.” Police said Horton was driving on Montauk Highway when he drove off the road and into a tree, rolling his vehicle. Police said Horton “exhibited slurred speech, smelled of an alcoholic beverage, had red and glassy eyes and stated he drank two glasses of wine.” He was arrested and processed at, according to the arrest report.