WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. September 13, 2006:  WPCNR has received the Accusatory Statements in the Michelle and William Trataros matter from the White Plains City Court. Actual charges are more detailed than previously reported.

The Accusatory Statements in the Trataros Cases: Charges have lead Ms. Trataros to excuse herself from public appearances on the Board of Education until at least after the October 17 Referendum on the district $69.6 Million Capital Improvement Project, according to Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors, speaking privately to WPCNR Monday evening. Photo, WPCNR News.

Neither Mr. Connors nor acting President of the Board of Education, William Pollak offered any public comment explaining Mr. Pollak’s appearance as Acting President and no explanation for Ms. Trataros absence or legal problems was made to the to the public or the television audience. There was no comment from those in attendance at the meeting about the Tratoros alleged incidents.

Connors told WPCNR after the meeting Ms. Trataros was not in attendance at the Board of Education meeting Monday night, because she needed “the time to work things out with her family.”  He said she was still a member of the Board of Education, and that he expected she would return to the Board when the direction of her legal problems was clear.

Last week, WPCNR asked Superintendent Connors, since the Board of Education is an elected body, whether the School District could remove a member from the Board should it feel compelled to do so, for any reason.

Connors said there were only two ways a member could leave the board, either by tendering their resignation, or “For Cause,” (the School District, or the Board of Education, it was not clear which,  demanding her resignation for being convicted of violating a law.

Mr. Connors did not indicate, in any way, or elaborate on how a “For Cause” action might unfold against Ms. Trataros, if at all, or indicate that the procedures of a “For Cause” action were being explored at this time.

Accusatory Statement Detail.

The Accusatory Statements filed against Michelle Trataros in City Court September 1, by the White Plains Police furnished to WPCNR by City Court read:

“…accuses the defendant named above of the following offense committed at 898 North Street, City of White Plains, New York on or about August 31, 2006 at approximately 8 P.M.

“COUNT ONE: The Offense of ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD,  a violation of Penal Law PL 260.10 01 AMO

 The Defendant knowingly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental, or moral welfare of a child less than seventeen years old.

To wit: The defendant at the above date, time and place, did hit her fifteen year-old daughter with a wooden spoon.

The above allegation(s) of fact are made by the complainant herein on direct knowledge (and upon information and belief) with the source(s) of complainant’s information and the grounds for his or her belief being police investigation.”

“COUNT ONE: The Offense of HARASSMENT IN THE SECOND DEGREE, a violation of Penal Law PL 240.26 01 0V2

The Defendant with intent to harass, annoy and alarm another person, he/she strikes, shoves, kicks or otherwise subjects such other person to physical contact, or attempts or threatens to do the same.

To wit: The defendant at the above date, time and place, did strike her 15 year-old daughter with a wooden spoon on her back and legs.”

William Trataros, Ms. Trataros husband,  was also charged in the August 31 incident with the Trataros daughter.

The Accusatory Statement filed against Mr. Trataros, “accuses the defendant named above of the following offense committed at 898 North Street, City of White Plains, New York on or about August 31, 2006 at approximately 8:00 P.M.

COUNT ONE: The offense of ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD, a violation of Penal Law PL 260.10 01 AM0

The defendant knowingly acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental, or moral welfare of a child less than seventeen years old.

To wit: The defendant at the above date, time and place, did act in a manner, which is injurious to the physical mental, or moral welfare by punching his 15 year-old daughter numerous times with his fist all over her body.”

COUNT ONE: The Offense of ASSAULT IN THE THIRD DEGREE, a violation of Penal Law PL 120.00 01 AM3

The Defendant with intent to cause physical injury to another person, he/she causes such injury to such person or to a third person. Assault in the third degree is a class A misdemeanor.

To wit: The defendant at the above date, time and place, did punch his 15 year old daughter numerous times with his fist all over her body causing substantial pain and suffering and redness to her back, neck and stomach. Defendant also grabbed the victim around her neck with his hands causing redness and swelling to the neck area.”

Police Report Observations.

In the Police Report furnished to WPCNR by the White Plains Police Department, filed by the investigating officers, Ms. Trataros daughter was described as having the following injuries: “scratches, bruises,” and she was not hospitalized. The daughter was described by the officers checking a box on the report, as “fearful.” In the Threats section the box "Injure/Kill Persons" was checked off.

The officer filling out the Police Report checked off the following reported acts: kicking, punching, pushing, slapping, slamming body, strangulation/ “choking,” unwanted contact, verbal abuse.

The Police Report investigating officer statement reads (WPCNR has removed the address of the home to which the Tratoros daughter had fled from her home at 898 North Street and from where she telephoned police to report the alleged events.)

“Responded  to  ---- on a report of child abuse. We met Trataros (daughter) and she stated she was physically abused by her parents, William and Michelle Tratoros… Tratoros (the daughter) stated William punched, choked, kicked and threw her down a flight of stairs during an assault. Mother, Michelle, beat her with a wooden spoon to assist in this assault. Photos taken. Transported back to H.Q. for statement. William and Michelle brought to H.Q. for investigation. See  D.D. Case for further. CPS Case Worker --- notifed”

Deputy Chief Anne Fitzsimmons of the White Plains Police Department said that a Police Report is the first report on an incident and formal charges are drawn up based on that report, but charges are based on the report and refinement of the original police report as the investigation unfolds.

Signed statements of the victim and the defendants were not legally available to be released to WPCNR, FitzSimmons said.

The investigation is ongoing, and being refined according to Deputy Chief  FitzSimmons, speaking to WPCNR Monday afternoon.  The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson told WPCNR that all documents and information the media are entitled to have at this time are included in the Accusatory Statements.

The defendants were due back in City Court October 11 “for all purposes” according to the City Court clerk