Too Many in Dinner Line

A 20-year-old patient at Phoenix House, the Wainscott treatment center for young men struggling with drug abuse, was charged last week with felony assault for allegedly striking a 15-year-old fellow resident in the head with a plate, opening a gash above his eye that required several stitches.

Nicholas W. Abrams of Patchogue was standing in the dinner line last Thursday evening, waiting to be served, along with the teenager, who later stated to East Hampton Town police that “there were too many people in line. The kitchen help stopped serving.” Mr. Abrams was standing too close to him, he told police, and he cursed at him. A shoving match followed, according to the alleged victim, and the older youth swung his plate. The teen swung back, he said, but missed. “Then he hit me again, striking me above the eye. I saw I was bleeding.”

The two were separated, and police were called.

Mr. Abrams was released from custody the next morning after $5,000 bail was posted on his behalf.

Late last year, two Phoenix House residents were arrested following violent assaults on fellow residents, one of whom, police said, was sodomized. Both of those cases have since been adjudicated, with the court file sealed, since the defendants were under age. A third youth was arrested last fall on larceny charges after allegedly stealing two 18-packs of beer from the nearby Hess gas station.

A man accused of assaulting a town police officer spent five days in jail this week after being arraigned last Thursday. Jamian R. Leland, 19, of Springs, was arrested early Labor Day morning on a charge of driving while intoxicated, his second such charge in a week. The car he was driving during both arrests, a 1993 Honda, was found wrecked, leaning against a tree by his Eighth Street residence.

Police who confronted Mr. Leland said he refused to surrender and eventually had to be subdued with a stun gun. Officer Sarah Mortenson, a 10-year veteran of the department, injured her leg in the altercation and is still on leave, Chief Michael Sarlo said yesterday.

Mr. Leland, who was hospitalized after the struggle, was charged with two felonies, including assaulting a police officer. He came to court on Sept. 10 for his arraignment, wearing a grey pinstriped suit, accompanied by his father.

“You are completely spiraling out of control,” Justice Lisa R. Rana told him. “You have no regard for the people of this community.” She set bail at $7,500, and he was taken to jail.

Back on Tuesday, still not indicted within five days of the felony arrests as required by law, he stood before Justice Steven Tekulsky, who said, “I have no choice but to release you.” Justice Tekulsky said that Mr. Leland had turned down an offer from the county district attorney’s office to plead guilty in exchange for a 10-month sentence.

“The best thing you can do is stay out of trouble until the disposition of this case,” Justice Tekulsky said. “If you are involved in another incident, perhaps then the D.A. will indict you in a timely fashion.”

Mr. Leland is due back in court on Sept. 25, when Justice Rana will again preside.

Another local resident facing felony charges is Luann Eames, 53, after a recent altercation at the East Hampton Mobile Home Village on Oakview Highway. Ms. Eames has been in custody since her arrest on the evening of Sept. 9.

According to town police, Ms. Eames showed up that night at the door of her estranged husband, Clifford Eames, demanding to be let in. When he declined, she allegedly picked up an outdoor statue and used it to break a front window, then began kicking the front door.

When Mr. Eames came out of the house, police said, Ms. Eames picked up a “green metal chair” and swung it at his head. When he raised his arms to protect himself she hit his right arm, badly bruising it. He retreated inside and called police, who quickly arrived.

The damage to the door frame and the window was estimated at $300, making the charge criminal mischief, a felony triggered for damage exceeding $250.

Bail was set the next morning at $1,500, which Ms. Eames did not meet. Her Legal Aid attorney, Brian Francese, waived her right to be released after five days if not indicted, in order to reach an agreement with the district attorney’s office. The time she spends in county jail will be applied to her sentence, should she elect to plead guilty.