Top March News: Bowling Alley Plans; Teacher Charged and Sears Pleads

As we get ready to welcome April, here is a quick look back at the top headlines posted by Westhampton-Hampton Bays Patch in March.

1. Cops: Gym Teacher Hid Camera in Girls Locker Room

On March 20, New York State Police have charged a 27-year-old Westhampton Beach Middle School gym teacher with unlawful surveillance, a felony, for allegedly hiding a video camera in the girls locker room. The teacher, Thomas Sheppard, of Speonk, was released on $25,000 bail.

2. WATCH: Hampton Bays FD Does the 'Harlem Shake'

In early March, the Hampton Bays Fire Department became the latest group to get in on the Harlem Shake — a dance craze that has gone viral. The meme starts with one dancer rocking to the music all on his lonesome — in this case, a firefighter — while the people around him are seemingly oblivious. About 15 seconds in, the videos cut to the entire room jamming in a frenzy with department members holding chairs in the air, some have no shirts on.

3. Quogue Police: Parents Discover Man Having Sex With Their Son

On March 11, Quogue Village police arrested a 25-year-old Bay Shore man and charged him with two counts of third-degree sex abuse, a misdemeanor, after he allegedly had sex with a minor.

4. New Plans in Works For Former Westhampton Beach Bowling Alley

The darkened former bowling alley, which sits at 78 Sunset Avenue in Westhampton Beach, is close to being transformed into retail space, complete with a 50-seat restaurant. The owners of the property, Sunset West, LLC, based out of Manhattan, are close to obtaining approvals a project to reconstruct the 20,000 square-foot building to serve year-round businesses.

5. Grand Jury Indicts Jay Lockett Sears on 6 Counts of Child Porn Possession

Jay Lockett Sears, 73, was back in court on March 11 to face a six-count indictment on child pornography charges. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, if convicted.

6. SHARE: Hampton Bays St. Patrick's Day Parade Photos

Patch readers uploaded hundreds of photos from the annual Hampton Bays St. Patrick's Day parade, held on March 23.

7. SHARE: Westhampton Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade Photos

See photos uploaded by Patch readers from the annual Westhampton Beach St. Patrick's Day parade, which kicked off on March 9.

8. Hampton Bays Resident Takes Road Repair Into His Own Hands

The residents of Atlantic Avenue in Hampton Bays said they have accomplished what they set out to do: repair their private roadway in one day, spending less than $1,000.

9. Officers Nab Burglars After Crash on Beach Lane Bridge

A pair of burglars were caught after the driver of the getaway car crashed into a barrier on the Beach Lane Bridge.

10.

A 14-year-old boy sold marijuana to a fellow student on the grounds of the Hampton Bays High School, according to Southampton Town police. School officials found the boy, whose name was not released, in possession of marijuana on March 8 at about 10:40 a.m., police said. Once police investigated, they found the boy had sold some to another student.

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