October 14, 2005

DILLON ANNOUNCES:

ARREST OF COURT EMPLOYEE FOR TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC RECORDS

Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced today the arrest of Karen March, 34 Emily Avenue, Elmont, an employee of the Nassau County District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead, New York, on one count of Tampering with Public Records in the Second Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor.

According to Dillon, March, a senior court office employee assigned to the Nassau County District Court Civil Division, concealed the summons, complaint and default judgment paperwork regarding a civil lawsuit in which she was the defendant. The defendant’s actions were discovered when the plaintiff’s attorney contacted the court to determine the status of the lawsuit, and the official court file could not be located. A subsequent search of March’s desk located at the courthouse, discovered the missing court file.

March faces up to one year in jail if convicted. She will be arraigned later today in First District Court in Hempstead

The charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.