State v. Tammy Deland
Jan 20, 2010OUTCOME: Not guilty
HAMPTON — School District Clerk Tammy Deland was found not guilty Wednesday on charges that she once again launched an egg at her neighbors' house on Bourn Avenue. Deland, 41, was arrested on Oct. 2 ... 1, 2009 on charges of criminal mischief and contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with the alleged vandalism to a neighboring home owned by Patricia and Mark Antlitz. After a one-hour trial at Hampton District Court Jan. 13, Judge Mark Weaver said there was not enough evidence to prove Deland was the culprit. Deland was charged with the crime seven months after pleading no contest to putting a chemical compound on the Antlitz's lawn on July 10, 2008, and throwing an egg at their home on Jan. 8, 2009. On the witness stand, Mark Antlitz testified while at his bedroom window he saw both Deland and her son throwing something at his home around 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 7. However during cross examination by Deland's attorney, Vincent J. Marconi, Antlitz admitted that he did not actually see what was thrown. "I saw her son throw something and Tammy threw two things," said Antlitz, who noted that when he went outside he saw two rocks on the ground and an egg splattered against his house. "But you didn't see an egg come out of her hand," Marconi said. "No," Antlitz responded. Antlitz noted that he and his wife installed a surveillance system around their home due to prior vandalism by Deland. However during this incident, the surveillance cameras were not working due to a power outage. Marconi argued the criminal mischief complaint states Deland threw the egg while the delinquency of a minor charge alleges her son did it. "(Police) don't know who threw the egg," said Marconi. "They had probable cause because of prior conviction, but no evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that she threw the egg." Weaver agreed with the argument and said he couldn't convict Deland on either charge. After winning her case, Deland said she would not make any future comments regarding her issues with her neighbors. Deland had previously said her neighbors have been making her life a living nightmare. "I have no idea how this began," Deland had said previously. "They have hated me since I moved here. They don't harass anyone else in this neighborhood." Deland said that for a short period she thought she had reached an understanding with her neighbors when they joined forces to work on getting a growth ordinance passed in town. The truce, however, was short lived, she said. "We were friends, and then I planted flowers that, unfortunately, spread into her yard and it was all downhill from there," Deland said
