Cops: Hampton Bays man eavesdropped on ex

A Hampton Bays man was arrested Saturday, accused of eavesdropping on his estranged girlfriend's phone calls and text messages, police said.

Ralph Rivera, 28, "illegally gained access" to the woman's cell phone and recorded her private phone and text messages, Southampton Town police said.

The woman had previously contacted police to report "that her estranged boyfriend was privy to all her phone and text messages without her consent," police said Monday.

Rivera was charged with felony eavesdropping and was issued a field appearance ticket for arraignment in Southampton Town Justice Court at a later date.