Supervisor Kate Murray and other Hempstead Town officials are calling for the resignation of Town Clerk Mark Bonilla after his arrest Friday.
According to Newsday, the Republican town clerk "attempted to obtain intimate photos of a female subordinate who had filed a claim of sexual harassment against him."
The complaint, filed by Det. Investigator William Walsh, says that on Aug. 19 Bonilla tried to force one of his employees, Alex Desidoro, to supply him with compromising photos of a female employee who had filed the sexual harassment claim against Bonilla.
According to a release, the town attorney’s office investigated complaints against the clerk and contacted the Nassau District Attorney’s Office with information in this matter. Subsequently, detectives from the district attorney’s office arrested the clerk and charged him with three misdemeanors.
“I am personally offended and disgusted by the alleged conduct of the Town Clerk," Supervisor Murray said in a statement issued by the town. "Public officials must hold themselves above reproach, and the credible allegations that have come to my attention have undermined my trust and confidence in him. As a result, I am calling upon the Town Clerk to immediately resign.”
Bonilla, 50, is charged with official misconduct, second-degree attempted coercion and petty larceny. The charges are all misdemeanors.
Bonilla resides in Bellmore and was last elected to his post in 2011. The the first Hispanic to be elected to a townwide position in the Town of Hempstead, Bonilla has been in office since 2003.
Information for Bonilla's attorney was not immediately available.
So, do "compromising" pictures already exist that are the centerpiece of this very suspect case? if so, does Mr. Desiderio have them and where did he get pics of his co-worker? Mr. Bonilla had previously been targeted via a paper thin sexual harassment charge and now appears to the target of an additional smear. I would like to see a full investigation of the ENTIRE situation including the relationship of Mr. Desiderio to the supposed victim. Lets give justice a chance. This sounds like another racially motivated lynch mob
Lets face it. You live in a racially segregated area and the only person of hispanic origin you may have contact with is your cleaning lady. You post online from the shadows yet you almost certainly would not utter a peep concerning your virulent bigotry in public. You are here this morning leading the lynch mob for Mr.Bonnilla solely because he has an Hispanic surname. I am uncertain about the facts concerning this case but from the brief description above , it stinks to high heaven. Knuckle dragging racists such as yourself may post from your all white enclaves but do not expect others to stand by and stand mute as cretins such as yourself attempt to railroad someone without a fair hearing of ALL of the facts. Mr. Bonilla is a AMERICAN and has God given rights which clearly annoys you.
Are you sure you want to base your argument of his innocence solely on his race?
Fair minded people that read these posts need to ask more questions about the facts of this case. Who are the players? What political motivations may they have? What type of relationships exist among the players? These are questions fair minded people ask so, they are not directed at you, Mr. "Patcher". This is 2012 and thankfully YOU are the oddity now not the great majority of decent folks that may smell a rat concerning this case. I do not expect to change your opinion of blacks or Hispanics or Jews. You are what you are. A hick and a hillbilly stuck in a time that has passed. Post all the Anti-Jew, Anti-Black and Anti-Hispanic nonsense that the patch will allow. The more you post the clearer it becomes concerning what may really be the issue in this case.
I imagine you are not privy to all the facts - so if you are indeed a "fair minded" person - wait for the facts to be revealed, get that big hispanic chip off you shoulder and refrain from throwing around the "bigot" label which is so frequently used by guilty people with no substance to their opinions.
Keep it civil or I'm going to shut the comment thread down. Thank you. -- Matthew Hogan Associate Regional Editor
Just telling it like it is, my cleaning lady is latina.
If he is innocent then he should definitely remain at his job but if he is guilty he should definitely resign and save the taxpayers time and money as well preserve the dignity of his office.
Any person who sexually harasses another is scum in my book, regardless of race,sex or ethnic background.
Jaime Sumersille Regional Editor, Nassau County
Look at the name calling you are doing there Ruiz. Look in the mirror. You are either obsessed with race, hate all except Hispanics or are simply a very intellectuality dull person.
From the tone of his letter to me... I did not trust him at all in the matter... so this does not surprise me.
Every time a Jew is arrested for something... do you see Jews ranting about bias? No... they are embarrassed. Same with Italians, blacks, etc...
Maybe that is why the very competent Mr. Bonilla treated you in that fashion.
First, my pen name is EA"R'THLING, you omitted the "r". I suppose you are not familiar with the word or what it means. Your title is Regional Editor, and as such you should begin by editing your personal post, the one describing your accomplishments. Second, you still have not responded to my request on how I violated the terms of usage. Thank you in advance. EARTHLING.