East Hampton man charged with manslaughter in Amagansett resident's death

An East Hampton man has been arrested and charged with manslaughter in the killing of an Amagansett man earlier this month after a fight in his home, Suffolk County police said.

Police identified the deceased as Kevin Somers, 45, in a news release. Marc Dern, 34, was scheduled to be arraigned Friday on a first-degree manslaughter charge, according to a Suffolk police news release.

Dern's arraignment was scheduled for Southampton Town Justice Court on Friday but the time had not been determined, said a court clerk who did not give her name. The venue was changed from East Hampton Town Justice Court after Town Justice Steven Tekulsky recused himself, said Michelle Field, East Hampton's senior justice court clerk. She did not provide a reason for the recusal. It was not clear if Dern had a lawyer.

According to the county police release, East Hampton Town police responded to Dern's Lincoln Avenue home on Feb. 5 after a 911 call came in around 10:40 p.m. about the fight. Somers was taken to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy was to have been performed by the Suffolk County medical examiner.

An East Hampton Town officer referred questions to the county department. A county police spokeswoman did not immediately respond to questions including why the men were fighting, how Somers died and where and when Dern was arrested.

By Nicholas Spangler

nicholas.spangler@newsday.comspanglernewsday

Nicholas Spangler is a general assignment reporter and has worked at Newsday since 2010.