Felony Added in East Hampton Attack

A Bridgehampton man accused of assaulting an elderly Northwest Woods woman was indicted by a grand jury last Thursday on multiple felony charges, and was re-arraigned in Riverside Wednesday. Bronte E. O’Neal, 50, faces a minimum sentence of two years in state prison if convicted of either of the assault charges he is facing, which are classified as violent felonies.

He is accused of punching Irene Foster, 83, in the face on the morning of May 30, in the kitchen of her house at 29 Hands Creek Road. The blow knocked her backward, and she told police her head hit the refrigerator. East Hampton Town police said he kicked her repeatedly while she lay helpless on the ground.

She was treated at Southampton Hospital for a fractured skull and a broken collarbone before being transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital’s trauma ward.

Ms. Foster testified to the grand jury via a video that was recorded at her bedside by the office of District Attorney Thomas Spota. She is now in a rehabilitation facility.

Mr. O’Neal was originally charged by East Hampton Town Police with a single count of felony assault. The grand jury added the second charge: It is a felony in New York State to intentionally cause serious injury to a person aged 64 or older.

He is additionally charged with grand larceny, for allegedly stealing Ms. Foster’s 2015 Hyundai Elantra. He told police he had driven it to Mastic-Shirley after the incident, but said he had Ms. Foster’s permission to drive the car.

He was arraigned on the felony charges in the Riverside courtroom of New York State Supreme Court Justice John J. Toomey Jr. on Wednesday.

Bail was originally set at $50,000 in East Hampton Justice Court. Mr. O’Neal could not post it, and was sent to the county jail. Once he was indicted the bail was revoked, and he remains in the jail.