JUDGE REASSIGNED, CITED IN COMPLAINT
Newsday/Andrew Strickler and Gary Dymski
Judge Andrew Tarantino, Jr., a Suffolk judge, was reassigned from his bench in a Riverheadfamily court Monday and state officials say they have received a complaint against the judge fromParents for Megan's Law and the Crime Victims Center, a child advocacy group. The groupalleges he joked about child pornography during a hearing involving Dennis DeMille, a registeredsex offender. The complaint, filed Tuesday, alleges that Tarantino made Highlyinappropriate remarks during a spring hearing in Riverhead. The hearing at issued was partof an ongoing Family Court dispute over visitation rights and other matters between a 29 year oldmother of three and her ex-husband, said Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents for Megan'sLaw, during a new conference yesterday. As a result of the hearing, the judge expanded thefather's visitation rights over the mother's objections, ruling in April that he could haveovernight visits with the children. The father was convicted of rape and possessing childporn in 2008 and was sentenced to six months in jail and 10 years probation. The mother saidTarantino was sarcastic or dismissive of her through the hearing, and berated her for talking toosoftly. I don't want another family to have to go through this. It was almost like Iwas supposed to feel bad for trying to protect my children. Tarantino's April decision wasappealed by the childrens court-appointed attorney and a stay of the visitation order was granted,Ahearn said. The father retains supervised daytime visitation rights with his children, noneof whom were involved with his previous criminal cases. The appeal is pending.
(New York)
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