MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:     
APRIL 7, 2008

CONTACT: JOSHUA SLAUGHTER
    Office:  (631) 852-1300
Cell:  (631) 456-1718
 Email: Joshua.Slaughter@suffolkcountyny.gov

BROWNING AND RESIDENTS OF THE THIRD DISTRICT EXPRESS OUTRAGE
AND CALL FOR STRONGER PUNISHMENT OF LEVEL TWO SEX OFFENDER

Riverhead, NY- Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) was joined today by District Attorney Thomas Spota, Laura Ahearn the Executive Director of Parents For Megan’s Law, and local residents at Suffolk County Criminal Court in Riverhead. Legislator Browning and local residents expressed their outrage at Suffolk County Criminal Court Judge Barbara Kahn for not charging Sal Inghilleri, a level two sex offender, with a felony for failing to register with New York State as a sex offender. Despite public outcry to charge Inghilleri with a felony, Judge Kahn charged him with a misdemeanor because that was the penalty for violating the law when Inghilleri left New York without notifying authorities. It is now a felony for failure to register with the state as a sex offender.

Browning stated, “This man is a danger to society and he deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law. Mr. Inghilleri knowingly violated the laws and belongs in jail. He has proven to be dishonest, has no regard for our laws, and as a level two sex offender he should not be released into society after proving he cannot be trusted”. About twenty residents and local civic leaders from her district joined Legislator Browning to protest the judge’s decision and to call for justice to be served. Suffolk County’s Third Legislative District has an over saturation of sex offenders and the residents do not want to see more sex offenders released into their neighborhoods.

Browning concluded, “As you can see by the large turnout of constituents from my district, it is obvious we are fed up with the amount of sex offenders being allowed back into society. Districts like mine have been bearing the burden when judges pass lenient sentences on these violent individuals. There needs to be a policy of strict enforcement put into effect, where no plea deals are made, and sex offenders serve the full time allowed by law. We also need to utilize civil confinement for the most violent offenders. My constituents and I will be following this case very closely, and I will make sure this man does not move into communities that have already taken more than their fair share.”