Fort Salonga man pleads not guilty to BWI crash charge
A Fort Salonga man arrested early Sunday on charges of boating while intoxicated after his vessel crashed into another in Northport Harbor has been released on his own recognizance.
William Tabert, 52, pleaded not guilty Sunday afternoon at his arraignment before Suffolk District Court Judge G. Ann Spelman at First District Court in Central Islip. Tabert stood silently as his attorney Dara Martin-Orlando entered the plea.
Tabert was at the helm of a 21-foot Malibu motorboat in Northport Harbor at 12:05 a.m. Sunday when it hit a 50-foot sailboat moored in the harbor and occupied by four members of a family, Suffolk County police said.
No one was injured in the crash, police said, and both boats suffered minor damage. Outside the courtroom after his release, Tabert and his attorney declined to comment.
Tabert is due back in court June 4.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
