Solages returned to court

Two videos, paperwork, presented to the defense at appearance

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With new legal representation, Nassau County Legis. Carrié Solages appeared in a Hempstead court on Aug. 10 for a domestic violence case. At this appearance, more evidence, such as two videos, were presented to the defense.

The videos were presented to show the defense that Solages allegedly exhibited a violent streak towards women. Solages' girlfriend took video on her cellphone during the alleged assault, according to court documents. The second video, which was posted on Facebook in July, allegedly shows Solages engaged in a type of road rage, yelling and swearing at a woman in a fit of anger while driving a vehicle.

Solages, 38, was arrested on June 21, and faces misdemeanor charges of assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He has pleaded not guilty. 

According to officials, Solages flew into a rage when he couldn't find his stash of marijuana, and assaulted his girlfriend, the mother of his 3-year-old son, in their Valley Stream home, early on that June 21 morning. 

Police said the little boy was crying as he saw the alleged assault. His cries alerted Solages' girlfriend's 14-year-old daughter from her sleep. She jumped on Solages' back to try to pull him off her mother when he allegedly grabbed her arm and neck, after throwing her against a wall, according to police.

Nassau District Court Judge Joy Watson said that Solages would need a written agreement or Family Court order to visit his son. The three-year old wasn't named before as a protected party, but he does live with his mother. Because she is an alleged victim, Watson made this recommendation.

Also at Solages' court appearance, Assistant District Attorney Tara Coughlin told Watson the government already provided the defense a copy of a 911 call on record, and to add onto that as evidence, she was also handing over paperwork and the two videos, on Aug. 10.

As for the videos being included as viable evidence, a spokesman for the district attorney declined to comment on them as of press time.

Since his last court date, Solages has sought out new representation, attorney Olivier Roche of Hempstead, who, along with Solages, declined to comment on the court appearance or answer any questions about either of the videos as of press time. The Facebook video has since been removed. He's due back in court Sept. 5.

The county legislature's Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams removed Solages from legislative committee assignments and expelled him from the party's caucus.  This expulsion bars him from some meetings and reduced access to staff assistance. Solages represents the 3rd Legislative District and has held his seat for six years.

Meanwhile, Solages continues to work on community issues, such as road repairs. He urged residents that if a utility company does not properly repave a road, or for road repairs in general, to call his office.

"Elmont Rd., fixed," he wrote in a Facebook post on Aug. 8. "Here is a letter that my office wrote to a utility company that didn't properly repave/patch-up our main roadway. Thank you to the utility company for getting the work done last Friday night."