New York – A state senator was indicted Friday on assault and other charges after being accused of attacking a New York Post photographer who took his picture, prosecutors said.
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A Brooklyn grand jury handed up the indictment charging Democratic Sen. Kevin Parker with second and third degree assault, third and fourth degree criminal mischief, third degree menacing and second degree harassment. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.
A spokeswoman said Parker had no immediate comment. His lawyer, Lonnie Hart Jr., didn’t immediately return an after-hours telephone message but has said the lawmaker is “eager to defend himself.” Parker’s arraignment on the indictment hasn’t been scheduled.
Photographer William Lopez has said Parker became enraged and charged at him after Lopez snapped a shot of him outside his Brooklyn home May 8. The photograph was to accompany a story concerning the lawmaker’s mortgage.
The lawmaker chased him to his car, reached in and grabbed his camera as he sat behind the wheel, Lopez said. He said the two struggled for the equipment before Parker ripped a panel off the car door and tore out the camera’s flash.
Parker, 42, has faced a series of allegations of rough behavior since taking office in 2002.
He was arrested in 2005 on charges of punching a traffic agent who was writing him a ticket. The charges were dropped after Parker agreed to take an anger management class.
Also that year, Parker’s security pass for state buildings was temporarily suspended for repeated violations of security regulations. A former aide complained that Parker had once assaulted her, then threatened her for talking about the incident; he was not charged.
Last summer, another aide filed a report with police saying Parker had shoved her and smashed her glasses during an argument at his campaign office. Parker filed his own complaint denying the allegations and saying the woman hit him. He wasn’t charged.
After Parker’s arrest this month, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith stripped the lawmaker of his positions — and $22,000 a year in extra pay — as majority whip and chairman of the energy committee while the case continues.
Parker has said in a statement that he agreed with Smith’s decision and would remain “engaged in the important issues before the Senate.”
Its william lopez who should be tried and charged, going to a persons house and taking pictures of his house that’s going to forclosure, i can imagine parker going trough enough of a hard time, its not an easy time when someone loses a house, and here comes this dirth digging post photographer, I’m not sure I would act diffrently
I guess he should step down
If it would have been a republican he would have been impeached
nu shoin…. eventually he will have to resign his seat & guess who we will see smiling to us from every lightpole… none other then the Hon. Noach Dear.
At least if he goes to jail he will have to live if they forclose on him.
There seems to be a great hatred by many of professional photographers. A number of years ago there was a short period of time when I carried two slr cameras around my neck as I walked around town. It was just a hobby. Using two cameras made it easier to take photos with two different lenses rather than to have to keep swapping lenses back and forth. Some people became so hostile towards me just seeing me carrying two cameras. I was not even pointing a camera at them. After a while I decided that carrying two cameras out in the open was not a good idea.
His behavior was totally unbecoming an elected politian!! If he is supposed to be our representative he should behave like one, not like an animal or a bully in a gym!! There is a time and place for everything!!
So now. He’s not a yidel flouting the laws and regulations. And he’s actually got himself a defender on this site. He better stick to being a non jew. If he ever does decide to convert the bloggers on here will eat him for dinner with his behavior. As long as he’s not “misheluni” we can understand him, right? This place makes me sick!!