Social worker denies violating protection order

The attorney for a Hauppauge social worker charged last year with posting a suggestive Craigslist ad about a 9-year-old girl questioned Wednesday a police report claiming that his client admitted driving by the girl's house last week.

Following a brief court appearance by Margery Tannenbaum, 41, her attorney, Tad Scharfenberg of Bohemia, said Tannenbaum did not tell police she drove by the girl's house in violation of a court order.

Court documents said Tannenbaum told police she had passed the girl's house Friday morning while driving to a Pilates class.

"I think it's a little different from what's been said about it," Scharfenberg told reporters outside court.

He said he "cannot confirm or deny" that Tannenbaum drove past the house.

Tannenbaum and her husband, Glen, did not speak to reporters as they left court.

Margery Tannenbaum was initially charged in February 2009 with posting the Craigslist ad and giving callers the phone number of the girl, then 9. Police said the ad was an act of revenge stemming from a dispute between the girl and Tannenbaum's daughter, also 9 at the time.

Tannenbaum has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from that incident. Orders of protection against Tannenbaum barring her from being near the girl's house were issued in May 2009 and July 2010.

Police said the girl's mother complained that Tannenbaum made an obscene gesture toward her while driving past her house Friday morning.

Tannenbaum pleaded not guilty Saturday in First District Court in Central Islip to one count of second-degree criminal contempt for disobeying a court order. She is free without bail.