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Southampton Town Supervisor Linda Kabot is due back in court on Thursday, October 29, and her lawyer is hoping to take her drunken driving case to trial that same day.
Riverhead Town Justice Allen Smith scheduled Ms. Kabot’s upcoming hearing, which will be held in Riverhead Town Court, during a brief court conference on Wednesday. Ms. Kabot’s attorney, William Keahon of Islandia, said the hearings shouldn’t last more than two hours. He hopes to complete the hearings that morning, and have jury selection and the trial that afternoon.
Mr. Keahon said he’s trying to expedite the trial to clear his client’s name before Southampton Town residents cast their ballots in the November 3 election. Ms. Kabot, the Republican incumbent, is facing Southampton Town Councilwoman Anna Throne-Holst, the Democratic nominee, in the race for town supervisor. “I’m trying to put everything together as quickly as possible,” he said.
But Assistant District Attorney Anthony Barone said the judicial process should not be rushed. He said that he’s still waiting for additional video footage of Ms. Kabot’s arrest from the Westhampton Beach Village Police.
Ms. Kabot was arrested and charged with a DWI on around 12:25 a.m. on Monday, September 7 on Main Street in Westhampton Beach. Village Police observed Ms. Kabot’s car crossing the double yellow line while making a left-hand turn from Sunset Avenue onto Main Street. According to the police report, the arresting officer said that Ms. Kabot’s breath “smelled strongly of an alcoholic beverage,” and her eyes were “red and glassy.”
After her appearance Wednesday, Ms. Kabot said she understands that she is facing serious charges and the legal process must run its course. She wants her trial to be held before Election Day, November 3, because her reputation as a public official is at stake, she said.
Ms. Kabot was returning to her home in Quogue after attending a 40th birthday celebration at her sister’s home in East Moriches the night she was arrested. Mr. Keahon has previously said Ms. Kabot had one glass of wine that night at around 7 p.m., and a second glass between 9 and 9:15 p.m.
Ms. Kabot refused a breath test at the scene and other chemical tests at Westhampton Beach Police headquarters because she said she believed that the officers were “overzealous” in their approach. Her driver’s license has been suspended for one year for refusing the breath test.
Mr. Keahon repeated on Wednesday that his client was not intoxicated during the time of her arrest. He said he’s viewed the arrest tape of Ms. Kabot and maintains there is nothing on the tape indicating signs of drunkenness, namely slurring of speech and imbalance.
Four and a half minutes missing from that arrest video are “crucial,” and the Westhampton Beach Police Department needs to answer to that malfunction, Mr. Keahon said Wednesday.
The Westhampton Beach Police Department is being investigated by Suffolk County Police Internal Affairs Bureau and Mr. Keahon is waiting to see if any information from that investigation concerns Ms. Kabot’s arrest.
Ms. Kabot was scheduled to appear in Westhampton Beach Village Justice Court on Wednesday, September 30, but that meeting was cancelled after two village justices recused themselves from the case. Justice Court Judges Robert Kelly and Gair Betts both know Ms. Kabot personally.
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. . . Assistant District Attorney Anthony Barone said. . .that he’s still waiting for additional video footage of Ms. Kabot’s arrest from the Westhampton Beach Village Police.
Quote:
Four and a half minutes missing from that arrest video are “crucial,. . . Mr. Keahon said Wednesday.
Odds are that both sides are talking about the same video footage. If the expected footage hasn't been delivered after five weeks, it doesn't exist. If the judge dismisses ... more the case because of the missing footage it will be a bombshell.
Total comments by highhatsize: 303
Total comments by T.J.: 27
Interesting scenario - Linda haters will say she somehow got the "damaging" 4 1/2 minutes erased, while Linda backers will say the missing tape proved her innocence and points to a setup.
You can't make this stuff up!
Meanwhile this becomes the make or break issue while the budget runs amok and the STPD continues to employ individuals who should have retired;
and STPD PBA acts like the Praetorian Guard of ancient Rome, deciding ... more who will become emperor.
Total comments by North of Highway: 174
Total comments by Undertow: 57
Total comments by nicole: 81
Total comments by PrivateerMatt: 301
Total comments by nicole: 81
Total comments by peoplefirst: 289
Total comments by Sam: 223
Total comments by golfer: 4
Total comments by Publius: 284
article quote:
" her lawyer is hoping to take her drunken driving case to trial that same day."
Maybe it wasn't intentional because the sentence also grammatically implies the lawyer is a female lol. I'm not a Linda Kabot supporter but it does seem like
she has been set up. ... more I wonder if a lot of people feel as I do that we have no choice but to not vote at all?
Total comments by heath: 18
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