Pair Are Charged as Dealers

Joseline Lizano-Mairena of Sag Harbor, left, and Katherin Molina of East Quogue were charged by East Hampton Town police on March 6 with possession of narcotics with intent to sell, among other charges.

T.E. McMorrow

Mar. 15, 2018

T.E. McMorrow

Two women were charged with felony possession of cocaine with intent to sell and drug paraphernalia on March 6, following an East Hampton Town police traffic stop on Route 114, near Toilsome Lane.

According to police, Joseline Lizano-Mairena, 25, of Sag Harbor was behind the wheel of a 2006 BMW when she was pulled over at around 10:30 p.m. for allegedly speeding. Police said she was doing 52 miles per hour in a 30 m.p.h. zone. Katherin Molina, 27, of East Quogue was in one of the passenger seats.

Searching the car, police said they found three plastic bags of cocaine with a weight exceeding 500 milligrams, leading to the felony charges. Police said they also found the kind of packaging materials used by drug dealers and a scale in the car. In addition, police said they found a plastic bag in the car with over 48 grams of marijuana, leading to separate misdemeanor charges.

Ms. Lizano-Mairena allegedly tried to take responsibility for the drugs that were found, telling police they belonged to her. But Ms. Molina then said, according to police, “No. It’s both of ours. I’m not going to let her just take the fall for it. It’s ours.”

They were arraigned in East Hampton Town Justice Court the following afternoon. Although neither has a prior criminal record, Rob Archer of the Suffolk district attorney’s office asked that bail be set for each at $10,000. Attorneys representing the women at the arraignment, Matthew D’Amato of the Legal Aid Society, who stood by Ms. Molina, and Carl Irace, who was appointed by the court to represent Ms. Lizano-Mairena, asked for a lesser amount. Justice Steven Tekulsky said $5,000 would be enough to ensure that they returned to court.

Mr. Irace also raised a question about the charges, saying, “There are some search issues here. It is unclear how the police intruded themselves into the car.”

Ms. Molina was bailed out after the arraignment by a family member. Ms. Lizano-Mairena’s family could not immediately post bail, and she was taken to county jail in Riverside. Bail was posted that evening, however, and she was released.