No jail for Finnerty

Stephanie Finnerty, a 43-year-old Ocean-side resident who pleaded guilty in December to endangering the welfare of a child, was sentenced to three years’ probation and fined $1,000 by Nassau County Court Judge Joseph Calabrese on Feb. 28.

In 2009, Finnerty had sexual contact with an unidentified South Shore minor. According to police, she was contacted by the Nassau County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit last year and surrendered without incident on Sept. 16. She pleaded guilty to child welfare endangerment on Dec. 21.

Under the terms of her probation, Finnerty must report to a probation officer and is subject to other restrictions. She will not, however, serve any time in jail.

At her sentencing, Calabrese granted the prosecution’s request to require Finnerty to sign a court order of protection to protect the victim from her.

Finnerty’s defense attorney, Nancy Bartling, told Calabrese that the victim requested the order as a “weapon.” Bartling said that the youth, who is no longer a minor, had been texting and sending messages to Finnerty, and even went as far as to stalk her children recently.

“The victim here is not in fear of my client … it’s the other way around,” Bartling said.

Despite her pleas, Calabrese directed that the order or protection be signed. It will be in effect until Dec. 20, 2015. “Let’s not confuse the situation,” Calabrese told Bartling.

The judge gave Finnerty an opportunity to speak, but she declined.

Finnerty, who lives on Greentree Drive, must pay her fine by March 25. If she does not, Calabrese may issue a warrant for her arrest. She does not have to register as a sex offender, though during her probation she must follow the same rules as a sex offender on probation.