Village of Kings Point Deputy Mayor David Harounian agreed on Monday to 14 hours of community service in exchange for having charges of sexual harassment against him held in abeyance for six months.
The agreement, called an “adjournment upon contemplation of dismissal,” was granted by Nassau County First District Judge Susan Kluewer during a brief bench trial in which Kluewer agreed to drop the case for six months on the condition that the 75-year-old Harounian completes his community service and “stay(s) out of trouble.”
“I’m very happy with it and I’m fine with it,” Harounian said in an interview about the plea deal.
Harounian said he is not bothered by having to perform community service.
“I have been doing charity work my whole life,” he said.
Kluewer also issued Harounian a “do not harass” order, saying she would reinstate the charges if Harounian committed any crimes, including harassment or stalking, against his alleged victim Joanna Cronin.
But, Kluewer said, if Harounian is again charged with harassment within six months he would be tried in court on greater charges.
Harounian allegedly made sexual comments towards Cronin during services at Temple Israel of Great Neck on Oct. 26, 2013.
After Cronin went to the police, Harounian was given a court summons for harassment in the second degree.
Cronin’s attorney, Marvin Kornberg, has said that multiple people saw Harounian make sexual comments to Cronin, a 43-year-old Great Neck woman, and force Cronin’s “own hands to her breasts, touching her breasts during services.”
Neither Cronin nor her lawyer, Marvin Kornberg, were not present during Monday’s hearing. Efforts to reach both for comment on the ruling were unavailing.
Melvin Roth, who represented Harounian after the summons was issued, rejected the allegations at the time, saying Harounian had never harassed Cronin.
“They’re not true at all. They’re completely baseless. Never happened. We’re going to fight it vigorously in the courts,” Roth said. “I don’t know where she’s getting these allegations from.”
Harounian appeared in First District Court on Nov. 7 on charges of harassment and was issued an order not to harass or commit any crimes against Cronin.
Robert McDonald, who represented Harounian at Monday’s hearing, said his client will comply with the plea deal but said Harounian “does not know [Cronin]” and did not sexually harass her.
Harounian is a longtime member of the village’s board of trustees and the owner of the rug design and manufacturing company Harounian Rugs International.
His seat on the Village of Kings Point Board of Trustees will be up for election this June.
In an interview last month, Harounian said he intends on running for re-election and said he does not think the lawsuit will have any impact on his chances of winning.
