A man who got into a confrontation at Huntington Town Hall last year was sentenced this week to six months in jail.
First District Court Judge Evan M. Zuckerman imposed the sentence on Vincent DiBenedetto, who was arrested last March 22 and charged with third-degree asault with intent to cause physical harm
Town officials said that DiBenedetto got into a confrontation with Public Safety Director Joe Cirigliano after DiBenedetto, accompanied by his wife, refused to provide his identification to guards at the security booth at the entrance to Town Hall, saying he had a right to enter a public building, a town spokeswoman said at the. DiBenedetto said he needed a copy of a death certificate and went around security to the town clerk’s office, a spokeswoman said.
While there, town officials said, he was videoing the clerk’s office but was told he was violating the privacy of residents there because certain kinds of paperwork could have been filmed. He was accused of hitting Cirigliano with a sign but later said on a video, “I punched the security guy in the face one time only to defend myself. Yet, I am the one who got arrested.”
He was remanded. The District Attorney’s Office said that it had recommended 3 years’ probation with alcohol, narcotics and mental health conditions, as well as a 12-week anger management program.
Cirigliano said, “From our end, we’re juts happy with the outcome. We’re glad it’ s over with.”