Hunter and ex-cop involved in Mattituck altercation both have court dates
Both men involved in an altercation in a Mattituck field in January, during which a former policeman’s dog was killed by a hunter who claims he was then beaten with his own gun, have follow-up appearances in Southold Justice Court over the next several days.
Jon Ferris of Mattituck, a former Suffolk County police officer, is scheduled to be back in court tomorrow, Friday, facing two counts. The first is the felony charge of second-degree assault for his alleged attack on Daniel Lamphere, an Albany-area man who was deer hunting south of the Farmveu subdivision Jan. 26.
Mr. Lamphere said he shot and killed one of Mr. Ferris’ dogs in self-defense after it lunged at him with teeth bared. He told police Mr. Ferris grabbed his shotgun and beat him with the butt-stock. He was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center with a head wound that required 12 stitches to close.
Mr. Ferris previously entered a plea of not guilty to the charge, which carries a jail term of up to seven years.
Subsequent to his arrest, Mr. Ferris was ticketed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation for allegedly feeding deer, a violation punishable by a fine of up to $250, according to DEC spokeswoman Aphrodite Montalvo.
She said the charge was prompted by information taken from a field camera. Mr. Ferris was not observed hunting over the bucket of feed, she said, and when questioned by DEC police he reportedly said the feed was for pheasants.
The agency’s investigation is continuing, Ms. Montalvo said.
Mr. Lamphere, who faces two DEC charges, is scheduled to appear in Justice Court on Monday, March 28. He was charged with firing a weapon within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling and for hunting without the landowners’ permission. According to the DEC, Mr. Lamphere was 461 feet from a home in the Farmveu neighborhood when he fired his single-shot 12-gauge shotgun.
Shooting within 500 feet of a home is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $1,000 and 15 days to three months in jail. The second charge is a violation punishable by a fine of up to $250 and 15 days in jail.
