A Nassau County judge dismissed Monday charges that had been filed against a former lawmaker who was accused of stealing a pocketbook from his ex-girlfriend’s East Garden City home three months ago.
David Mejias, a county legislator and one-time congressional candidate, had initially pleaded not guilty to charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
Prosecutors said that the 35-year-old woman did not want to pursue the case, prompting Judge Douglas Lerose to reduce the felony charges to misdemeanors and then dismiss them, according to reports and court documents. The judge also vacated a restraining order for Mejias to stay away from the woman.
“I am grateful that these outlandish charges have been dismissed,” Mejias said in a statement. “There was never any truth to the charges and as an attorney I appreciate that the legal system worked and the truth has prevailed.”
Police had arrested the 44-year-old Glen Cove-based attorney after he was accused of stealing the woman’s Louis Vuitton pocket book and bracelet from her home before the woman called 911, but hung up before the call was completed.
The complainant said that Mejias had a key to her home, was allowed to take the items after the two had a non-violent argument and that police had responded after the uncompleted 911 call, the documents said. After the officers arrived and she told them Mejias was involved, she said they became more aggressive in having her fill out a Domestic Incident Report even though she said she didn’t want Mejias arrested, the documents said. Authorities later tracked Mejias down at his Farmingdale home and arrested him.
Mejias, who has served in the county legislature from 2003 to 2009 and unsuccessfully tried to unseat U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) in 2006, was previously charged with stalking another ex-girlfriend while running for a state Senate seat in 2010. Those charges were also dropped.
