Manhasset cardiologist convicted as sex offender

A cardiologist faces up to 4 years in prison and must register as a sex offender after he was convicted Monday of second-degree unlawful surveillance for installing a hidden camera in his Manhasset office bathroom.

Vincent Pacienza, 54, of Links Drive in North Hills, waived his right to a jury trial. State Supreme Court Justice William Donnino issued a decision after a bench trial Monday in Nassau County Court in Mineola.

Pacienza, who must register as a sex offender for 10 years, is scheduled to be sentenced July 30. His medical license may be suspended or revoked by the state Department of Health's Office of Professional Medical Conduct, prosecutors said.

A call made to Pacienza's lawyer, Dennis Lemke of Mineola, was not immediately returned.

In June 2008, Pacienza closed an employees-only bathroom at his office, leaving one bathroom open for patients and employees, according to the Nassau district attorney's office.

He told his employees he installed an air purifier in the shared restroom, but "the air purifier, which faced the toilet, contained a hidden wireless camera with a direct video feed to a monitor underneath Pacienza's desk," according to the district attorney's office. An office manager discovered an invoice for the surveillance equipment and alerted police.

The office manager, who has left her position, another former employee and their supporters attended court to hear the decision. They said outside court they applauded the guilty verdict.

"I think this is justice," said Debbie Schubert, 35, of New Hyde Park, who discovered the invoice.

"He deserves it," said Ellen Marino, 38, of Bayside, who worked at Pacienza's office as a nuclear medicine technologist.