Town pol’s husband charged in bat threat

Michael Giglio, husband of Riverhead Town Board member Jodi Giglio, was charged with second-degree menacing last week after he threatened a 17-year-old pregnant girl while holding a bat. His wife later said he’d acted out of frustration because the girl allegedly stole $25,000 worth of jewelry from the family’s house this winter.

Two days after Mr. Giglio, 53, was charged, the girl, Sage Hervan of Baiting Hollow, was arrested by Riverhead Town Police.

“People should know that Michael was acting out of concern for our family and he did nothing more than defend our family and our home,” Ms. Giglio said in a statement. No one was injured in the incident.

During a vacation in February, the Giglios entrusted their Baiting Hollow home and pets to a young female acquaintance, according to investigators. On a morning when the girl was unable get to the home to care for the animals, she asked a relative, 18-year-old Brian Deboer, to do it for her. Mr. Deboer then asked Ms. Hervan, who lives near the Giglios, to accompany him on the chore, police said.

During that first visit, the pair allegedly swiped change jars, a bottle of rum and a box of Bagel Bites, according to the Giglios’ statement to police.

A few days later, Ms. Hervan returned to the house with two male accomplices and stole an estimated $25,000 worth of jewelry, including Rolex watches, and some of the Giglio children’s toys, including a Nintendo Wii gaming console, according to police.

Police charged Ms. Hervan on Friday