Husband of HMX Counselor Arrested for Harassment

by Judy Silberstein

(March 20, 2008) On Monday, March 17, Mamaroneck Town police arrested the husband of a Hommocks counselor on administrative leave since last October and charged him with making a harassing telephone call to one of the counselors that has remained working at the Hommocks.

Roger Denhoff, 43, had been under surveillance by Mamaroneck Town police for many weeks following multiple complaints lodged by Stacie Tramantozzi, 29. According to police reports, Ms. Tramantozzi received numerous calls from the same unknown man, who appeared to be calling from a pay phone. Among the messages was one on February 27 in which he reportedly said, “I’m coming after you soon, bitch.”

Ultimately, the surveillance led police to arrest Mr. Denhoff in the parking lot of the Mamaroneck High School. On the basis of a call made on March 17, he was charged with aggravated harassment in the second degree.

Mr. Denhoff, who has no previous criminal record, was arraigned, released on $1,000 cash bond, and told to return to court on Monday, March 24 at 6 pm. He was also ordered to refrain from any contact with or harassment of Ms. Tramantozzi. He faces at least one count of aggravated harassment, a Class A misdemeanor, the most severe category, which carries a penalty of up to a year in jail. The investigation is ongoing, and there could be further charges.

Mr. Denhoff is also alleged to have made two harassing, but not threatening, calls to the Hommocks principal, Dr. Seth Weitzman on March 11 and March 14. On Monday, March 17, a complaint was filed with police in the Village of Larchmont, where Dr. Weitzman resides. Mamaroneck Town police observed Mr. Denhoff using pay phones at 6 am, the same time Dr. Weitzman received the calls.

Both Ms. Tramantozzi and Mr. Denhoff declined to comment. Police said they were unable to provide additional details because of the continuing investigation. School district officials had no comment on the arrest or on the still unresolved situation involving Elizabeth Denhoff or Haruko Hirose, the other Hommocks counselor placed on administrative leave.

The school community first learned that the counselors were on leave via two messages on November 9 from Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried. (See:Two HMX Guidance Counselors Administratively Reassigned.) He advised parents that “at this time I have no reason to believe the health and safety of any child has been put at risk,” and that because the issues involved “personnel matters” he could not provide specific details. The district made immediate arrangements for temporary coverage of the two counselors’ caseloads, and ultimately hired full-time replacements for both positions. Dr. Fried later commented that the case could take months or even longer to resolve. (See: School Board Faces Unhappy Teachers, Update on Counselors.)

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