Share and Follow
A seasoned Long Island politician, known for his distinctive white hair, stood with a composed demeanor in court on Tuesday as he faced allegations of assaulting a political adversary during a confidential government meeting. The incident, which unfolded behind closed doors, has drawn significant attention.
Thomas Lohmann, 68, entered a plea of not guilty to charges stemming from an alleged attack on his fellow Smithtown Town Board member, Thomas McCarthy, who is also 68. The altercation reportedly took place on April 7. Judge Alonzo Jacobs dismissed McCarthy’s request for a protective order against Lohmann.
“Councilman Lohmann firmly asserts his innocence — the full story will emerge during the trial,” Lohmann’s attorney, Philip Branigan, assured reporters outside the district court in Central Islip.
Judge Jacobs highlighted the fact that Lohmann and McCarthy have been colleagues for nearly ten years, expressing his belief that Lohmann does not pose a threat to McCarthy.
McCarthy accused Lohmann of losing his temper after a public session, claiming that Lohmann struck him in the jaw during a tense executive session held at Smithtown Town Hall.
Smithtown Town Board member Lisa Inzerillo, who was in the room during the kerfuffle, backed-up Lohmann and called McCarthy “the boy who cried wolf” in comments to The Post — but declined to answer if she saw Lohmann strike McCarthy.
“The truth is just around the corner,” she said
The rival politicians allegedly started arguing over a legal matter during the closed-door session in early April — though prosecutors didn’t detail what sparked the dust-up.
Lohmann then allegedly hopped out of his seat and quickly ran up on McCarthy as he was speaking, pushing him and delivering a haymaker to the left side of his jaw, prosecutors said.
A video of the aftermath showed McCarthy angrily confronting Lohmann.
Prosecutors told Judge Jacobs that they have not finished collecting witness statements or even reviewing and obtaining surveillance footage from the incident.
But they did say McCarthy was treated at the hospital that same night for injuries consistent with the allegations against Lohmann, and noted officials have obtained police body cam footage they said back up the charges from the officers at the scene.
Lohmann was charged with misdemeanor assault, which is not bail eligible under state laws. He was released on his own accord.
The councilman — who was absent from the first town meeting on April 23 after his arrest — is due back in court on June 10.