Two witnesses led Riverhead Town police to a suspect who had allegedly just attempted to steal tires and rims off an unregistered vehicle at Used Car & Truck Discount Center on Route 58 early Thursday morning, according to a police press release. READ
A trio of men are being held in county jail after two of them tried to buy a Ford pickup truck in Riverhead using “fraudulent” identification Friday afternoon, then ran from police while a third was waiting in a nearby vehicle, according to a Riverhead police news release. READ
Michael Didwell mug shot (Credit: Southampton Town police)
A Calverton man accused of extorting thousands of dollars from a woman by threatening to kill her ex-fiancé, her friend, and her three young children last June pleaded guilty to attempted grand larceny in a Central Islip courtroom Tuesday.
Michael Didwell will be sentenced to six months in jail and five years of probation as a result of his plea deal, according to county court Judge Fernando Camacho.
Mr. Didwell’s plea to the felony charge covers 24 other counts — including 16 counts of felony grand larceny — he had originally been charged with, according to online court records.
He was arrested by Southampton Town police detectives on Aug. 5, 2014 after an investigation into the threats, authorities said. Prosecutors said Mr. Didwell made phone calls and met his victim in person to carry out the extortion plot.
Prosecutors had alleged that Mr. Didwell threatened to kill a woman’s ex-fiancé and her best friend, and later expanded his threats to the woman’s children.
Prosecutors also say Mr. Didwell gave a full confession in writing following his arrest. Five orders of protection were issued against him.
Mr. Didwell’s attorney, Daniel Rodgers of Southampton, couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
Mr. Didwell is due to be formally sentenced in April.