Calverton resident Gregory Fischer, who has numerous unsuccessful campaigns for public office — most recently school board in 2014 — has been charged by Riverhead Police with criminal contempt and harassment in connection with a domestic incident.
Image: Riverhead PD
Police said they arrested Fischer, 58, yesterday in connection with a domestic incident that occurred on Jan. 8.
Fischer was charged with criminal contempt in the first degree and harassment in the second degree. He was arraigned before Town Justice Allen Smith yesterday, pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance.
“I am not guilty,” Fischer said in a statement released early this morning. “If you know me then you know I stand tall. However, today I was moved so deeply that my eyes became tearful because Justice Alan [sic] Smith demonstrated and voiced his concern for the safety and well-being of both me and my children, and that justice be served.”
Police did not provide additional information about the nature of the allegations against the defendant or the facts surrounding the alleged domestic incident from which the charges stemmed.
Fischer has for years been embroiled in numerous disputes with the mother of his two young children, ages 10 and 7, over custody and visitation issues. He accused his son’s mother of kidnapping the children and removing them to Wyoming and also accused Riverhead police of wrongdoing for refusing to accept his complaint that his children were missing.
Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller maintained that the children were not missing because police and their father knew where they were, with their mother, who had custody of them at the time, according to Hegermiller. The matter was in family court, the chief said, which eventually ordered the mother to bring the children back to New York.
Fischer currently has a $10 million notice of claim pending against the Town of Riverhead in connection with its intended sale of the Second Street firehouse to builder Bob Castaldi.
In the past, in addition to the school board seat in 2014, Fischer has run for tax assessor (2013), town supervisor (2011), state senate (2010 and 2008) and town council (2007).
He also brought a lawsuit to attempt to force the public election of the trustees of the L.I. Power Authority. That suit was dismissed by the court.
Top photo caption: Gregory Fischer argues about filing a missing children complaint with Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller outside Riverhead Town Hall in October 2011. File photo: Denise Civiletti
Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. By law, a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Correction: A previously published version of this article incorrectly stated that Fischer is the father of two young sons. He has a young son and young daughter, as well as two adult children.
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