The daughter-in-law of disgraced former state Senate leader Dean Skelos, who, along with his son, faces a fall corruption trial, has been arrested on criminal mischief charges after she allegedly got into an argument with her nephew and broke his glasses, officials said.
Ann Marie Skelos, the wife of 33-year-old Adam Skelos, who pleaded not guilty to extortion and bribery charges along with his father last month, was arraigned Thursday and released on her own recognizance following her arrest Wednesday night in Rockville Centre.
Her attorney, Dennis Lemke, said the oral argument with the 21-year-old nephew never turned physical but a neighbor heard the two fighting and called police. He said the nephew went to use a telephone at some point while the two were arguing, Annmarie Skelos went to grab it, and the nephew's glasses broke during the exchange.
"As supportive as she has been for the Skelos family and their ordeal, they are just as supportive of her during this trying time," Lemke said.
Lemke says his client has no prior arrest history, and added Adam Skelos was in court to support his wife, who pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal mischief and attempted criminal mischief.
Her husband and father-in-law, who was the state's most powerful Republican when he was arrested in May, are set to begin trial Nov. 16 for allegedly bullying an executive into giving Adam Skelos a no-show job in exchange for political favors.
Dean Skelos and his son Adam Skelos have pleaded not guilty to the indictments against them and did not speak to reporters after a court appearance last month.
Dean Skelos, 67, was first charged in May with steering at least $300,000 in bribes to the son. Prosecutors say the total included $200,000 from an environmental technology company that was threatened with losing a significant contract with Nassau County if Adam Skelos wasn't paid as a consultant.
A revised indictment unsealed this month accuses the father and son of scheming to shake down the chief executive of a malpractice insurance firm that was lobbying the senator. It says Adam Skelos asked the executive for a full-time job when he and his father attended a fundraiser in 2012, saying he needed income and health insurance benefits.
