Madrid judge kept in jail as court orders mental health, substance abuse evaluations

Aug. 08--CANTON -- A suspended Madrid judge was sent back to the St. Lawrence County jail Friday afternoon with an order to undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations.

Anya A. Mironova Tendler, 43, of 100 Ruddy Road, Madrid, was brought before county Judge Jerome J. Richards on the return of an arrest warrant for allegedly violating probation. The charge stemmed from a drunken-driving arrest Wednesday night, when Ms. Tendler allegedly was involved in a hit-and-run accident with her 5-year-old triplets in the car and initially failed to stop for police.

Her driver's license was suspended at her arraignment that night, and she is accused of violating the terms of her release by driving to a liquor store in Ogdensburg the next day.

After spending Thursday night in jail without bail, Ms. Tendler appeared in court with her attorney, William J. Galvin, while Chief Assistant District Attorney David A. Haggard represented the DA's office. Judge Richards granted Mr. Haggard's request to appoint a special prosecutor to handle the charges against Ms. Tendler, which include three counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated under Leandra's law, unlawfully fleeing a police officer and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The judge said that while he is not opposed to releasing Ms. Tendler under probation supervision at some point, he is concerned about the allegations and wants to see the results of the evaluations. Judge Richards say he is "pulling rank" to try to get the evaluations done Monday morning. Then he will determine whether to release Ms. Tendler and under what conditions.

On Wednesday night, Ms. Tendler allegedly was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Canton with her 5-year-old triplets in the car. She also is accused of leading state police on a short chase when they tracked down her damaged BMW and tried to pull her over. No one was hurt in the accident, in which police said Ms. Tendler's vehicle struck the back end of another vehicle on eastbound Route 11 and fled the scene.

She additionally was cited for reckless driving, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, moving from lane unsafely, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and consumption of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle. She has been suspended from presiding over any matters in Madrid Town Court, where she is the only justice, under an order signed by state Court of Appeals Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts A. Gail Prudenti. Fourth Judicial District Administrative Judge Vito C. Caruso will reassign any cases to another justice.

___

(c)2014 Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, N.Y.)

Visit Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, N.Y.) at www.watertowndailytimes.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services