Ferrari Joyride Could Have Dire Consequences

A 19-year-old sophomore at a Florida college who is an East Hampton resident is facing felony grand larceny charges after taking a Ferrari California, valued at between $200,000 and $300,000, on a joy ride from a residence where his mother works, according to East Hampton Village police.

Police were called to 15 Buckskill Road by the son of the owner Saturday afternoon, July 14. The son said he had found the garage door open, and his father’s blue 2015 Ferrari California missing. An alert was called out for all units to be on the lookout for the vehicle. That is when Michael Perez-Medina drove onto the property in the missing vehicle, according to the police. In the car were two of Perez-Medina’s friends. Police said he drove to Georgica and Main beaches as well as Montauk, picking up friends along the way.

Perez-Medina was booked on two felony charges, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, along with a misdemeanor charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle.

He was brought to East Hampton Town Justice Court Sunday morning to be arraigned. Representing Perez-Medina for his arraignment in front of Justice Lisa Rana was Brian DeSesa. Justice Rana said that the district attorney’s office had asked bail to be set at $15,000. DeSesa argued for a lower amount, saying that Perez-Medina had lived in the area for almost his whole life, was a college student, and had hired a private lawyer.

“There might be an ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) detainer,” Justice Rana said. She had been told that by police, but had not been given documents to that effect. “He has indicated he is DACA,” DeSesa said, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program instituted under President Barack Obama.

“I’m just going to proceed normally,” she said, as she would with any arraignment. She set bail at $1000, which was posted.

Afterward, as he left the courthouse, DeSesa questioned whether or not Perez-Medina should have been charged at the felony level, instead of the simple misdemeanor charge of unauthorized use of a vehicle, since, he had returned it. The legal consequences of the felony charges could, potentially, be extreme for Perez-Medina: as DACA, he is registered with ICE.

t.e@indyeastend.com