LI BRIEFS

NASSAU/Queens prosecutor named in Mejias case

The man who won a domestic violence conviction against former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate now has been tapped to be the special prosecutor in the case of David Mejias, the ex-legislator and current Democratic State Senate candidate accused of stalking and menacing his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend.

Scott E. Kessler, the domestic violence bureau chief for the Queens district attorney's office, was brought in to prosecute Mejias because Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice, whose office would normally handle such cases that occur in Nassau, said she has a relationship with the alleged victim and her family.

Mejias, who is trying to unseat the Republican incumbent in the Sixth State Senate district, is accused of using his Cadillac to tailgate, repeatedly chase and cut off his ex-girlfriend's Land Rover on Wednesday as she drove with her boyfriend. He's out of jail on $2,000 bond or $1,000 cash bail, officials said.

Mejias pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday on charges of reckless endangerment, menacing and stalking and said in a statement posted on his campaign website that he would be cleared of all charges.

When Mejias' case is back in court on Sept. 16, Kessler will appear on behalf of the prosecution, said Kevin Ryan, a spokesman for the Queens district attorney.

Kessler was appointed special prosecutor under an order by Judge Anthony F. Marano of Supreme Court in Mineola.

- MATTHEW CHAYES

MATINECOCK/State allows village to use parks funds to repave road

The village of Matinecock has received state approval to spend up to $59,000 from a parks fund to repave a village road near Planting Fields Arboretum.

Construction probably will start later this month and is expected to cost $125,000, village officials said. Matinecock will use almost the entire parks reserve fund - leaving about $470 in the account, according to a state legislative aide - and other money set aside by the village for road upgrades.

Because the parks fund is intended for the purchase of new parkland, the state had to approve the village's plans. State Sen. Carl Marcellino (R-Syosset) and Assemb. Michael Montesano (R-Glen Head) sponsored the bill, and Gov. David A. Paterson signed it Tuesday.

The village's section of Planting Fields Road has been in disrepair, village Mayor Kenneth Goodman said. And the fund hasn't been used in years, he said.

"It really seemed like a no-brainer," Goodman said. "Having a parks fund, it has no real purpose."

- NOMAAN MERCHANT