Rice: Town Clerk Wanted to Pay Accuser $10K

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said Tuesday that Hempstead Town Clerk Mark Bonilla had considered paying a female subordinate $10,000 after she had filed a claim of sexual harassment against him.

Bonilla was arrested Friday after the Republican town clerk "attempted to obtain intimate photos" of the aforementioned subordinate.

However, according to Newsday [paid link], before attempting to obtain the photos, Bonilla "asked a town attorney whether he could pay the woman $10,000 to make the complaint 'go away.'" At a news conference, Rice said the town attorney immediately rejected the idea, and ordered Bonilla not to contact the woman who made the complaint. Bonilla, 50, pleaded not guilty Saturday to charges of official misconduct, second-degree attempted coercion and petty larceny. The charges are all misdemeanors.

A law enforcement source also told Newsday: Three women in their 20s have made allegations "of a sexual nature" against Bonilla, describing a "hostile work environment." The Bellmore resident has not yet confirmed whether or not he will resign from his position as town clerk.
 
Bonilla's story has been making headlines at home after a neighbor allegedly shoved a news cameraman near of Bonilla's Bellmore.

With Matthew Hogan