Crime & Safety

Crime Nearby: Misfortune for LI Psychic

Notable arrests and convictions around Long Island.

A Wantagh woman who runs a psychic shop allegedly scammed a customer out of $4,900 to help "lift a curse," Nassau County Police said.

Lisa King, of Lisa's Psychic Shop, performed a series of psychic readings for a female victim, 49, over the course of one week in mid-June, police said. 

King allegedly advised the victim that she was cursed and would need to give her the money to lift it. Police said King told the victim that she would bury the money and was not to tell anyone about what happened or the curse would return.   

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King is charged with third-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree grand larceny and fortune telling. 

Child Sex Charges

A Levittown man was arrested in early Friday morning after allegedly having a five-month long sexual relationship with a 12-year-old boy, Nassau Police said.

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Joseph Tucciarone, 54, befriended the boy in September 2012, offering the victim candy a first, police said.

In November 2012, police said the relationship became sexual and approximately 12 encounters at Tucciarone's residence occurred through April 2013.

Tucciarone was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, first-degree criminal sexual act and first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child.

Police: No Foul Play

Irene Luetje, the North Massapequa woman woman whose body was found outside of a Massapequa home in February, froze to death, Nassau County Police said Friday.

Luetje, a 60-year-old Farmingdale State College secretary, was discovered lying outside of an empty Ocean Avenue home Feb. 14, leading police to ask for help in solving her mysterious death. But an autopsy said she died of natural causes, according to cops. 

A police spokesman said the autopsy revealed Luetje was found to have ketoacidosis, a condition associated with diabetes. Police believe Luetje may have had and episode and might have knocked on the door looking for help before passing out and freezing to death.

The home was not occupied at the time. 

Burning Man Gets 60 Days

A New Hyde Park resident will spend 60 days in jail for an April 2012 fire that destroyed a lodge in Wawarsing in upstate New York.

According to police, Lance Muckenhaupt, 57, was allegedly burning brush on the property of the old Tamarack Lodge without a permit. A ban on any open burning was also in place until May 15.

Police said approximately 30 structures were damaged or destroyed and numerous acres of woodland were also destroyed.

Muckenhaupt pleaded guilty to the charges in April – which include arson – and was originally due to be sentenced on May 20, but failed to appear in court. A bench warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest, after which Muckenhaupt turned himself in, saying that he had confused the sentencing date. He was held for 11 days in Ulster County Jail. 

Police Make Special Delivery

A Rosedale woman was arrested Wednesday in Great Neck after getting an eight-pound delivery of marijuana.

According to Nassau Police, a task force conducted a controlled delivery of approximately eight pounds of pot to Yvonne Webley, 44.

Webley received the package in Great Neck at 6:10 p.m. and was placed under arrest, police say. She is charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana.


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