August 14, 2006

Port Washington Teacher Arrested

Math Teacher accused of stealing more than $2,500 in overtime pay

MINEOLA, NY – Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that charges have been filed against Janet Reinike, 39, of Oyster Bay.  She is accused of stealing more than $2,500 from the Port Washington Union Free School District, where she is employed as a math teacher in the Weber Middle School.

“When we pay our taxes we should expect our public officials and our educators to spend our hard-earned dollars appropriately,” said Rice.  “When they violate that trust, they will be held accountable.”

The defendant has been charged with Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, both Class E felonies punishable by a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

During the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 school years, Ms. Reinike submitted duplicate overtime payroll time slips requesting overtime payment for detention duty to which she was assigned.  The duplication of these time slips resulted in the defendant receiving $2,784 to which she was not entitled.  The theft was uncovered by an internal investigation conducted by the Port Washington Union Free School District.  The school district referred the case to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, who began an investigation in September 2005.

Ms. Reinike was arrested today by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Detective Investigators and was arraigned First District Court, Hempstead, where she was released on her own recognizance.  Ms. Reinike’s next court date is schedule for August 21, 2006.
 
Assistant District Attorney Robert Cavallo of the newly created Public Corruption Bureau will be handling the case for the District Attorney’s Office.  Ms. Reinike is being represented by Graham Kessler, Esp.

The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Port Washington Union Free School District for their assistance and cooperation in these investigations.

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Name: Janet Reinike
Age: 39
Address: 200 Lexington Ave, Apt. 5B Oyster Bay, NY
Charges: Grand Larceny 4°, Falsifying Business Records 1°