COURTS: Charge against L-P teacher adjourned

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March 15, 2010

Joseph Lauzonis accepts plea deal in domestic violence case

By Nick Mattera Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Tue Feb 22, 2011, 10:34 PM EST

LEWISTON — EDITOR'S NOTE: There were subsequent developments in this case. Please see the story posted Feb. 22, 2011:

A domestic violence case against Lewiston-Porter School District teacher Joseph Lauzonis ended in a plea deal Monday, when New York State Supreme Court Justice Frank Caruso sentenced him to an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal in the case.

Caruso adjourned the case for a one-year period and stated that as long as Lauzonis did not have a run-in with the law during that time, the case would be dismissed.

An order of protection was continued and Lauzonis is not to have any contact with his estranged wife.

Few details of the alleged domestic incident were discussed during Monday’s hearing, however, Maria Stoelting of the District Attorney’s office said a tape recording made by Joseph Lauzonis highlighted an argument between the couple that ended with him allegedly hitting his wife in the head.

Michael W. McNelis, the attorney for Joseph Lauzonis, unsuccessfully asked Caruso for a dismissal of the case calling him a “good man” and a “dedicated teacher.” He went on to call the allegations the product of a bitter divorce between the two that has been going on for two years.

A Niagara Gazette Freedom of Information request showed Joseph Lauzonis was arrested on Jan. 10, following a domestic dispute at his South 2nd Street home. The order of protection was issued at the time of the arrest.

Caruso said the two need to take a breath and think about their three children.

“They need to stay as kids and not be drawn into this,” Caruso said about the children.

The couple have children aged 4, 6 and 7, and Caruso added that the two should live their lives separately, because their adult problems are not the business of the children.

Caruso stated that the two would abide by pervious shared custody arrangements.

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