Smithtown Highway Superintendent Pleads Not Guilty To Tampering With Public Records

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The man in charge of maintaining some 450 miles of roads on Long Island is accused of tampering with public records related to highway construction projects.

Smithtown Highway Superintendent Glenn Jorgensen faces felony charges of tampering with public records and grand larceny. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct.

Jorgensen pleaded not guilty Wednesday at First District Court in Central Islip, WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported. He was released without bail.

Suffolk County prosecutors say the 63-year-old destroyed Smithtown highway road condition reports. They say reports had false information about temperature and road conditions that were too cold to allow paving.

Newsday says paving road surfaces when it's too cold violates state Department of Transportation specifications. The state standard is 45 degrees.

Jorgensen himself did not comment outside court, but his attorney, Anthony La Pinta, said his client will vigorously defend himself.

"We're going to move forward," La Pinta said. "This is a heavy task for anyone to endure. But luckily, he's a man that has a lot of friends and a lot of family support."

La Pinta said Jorgensen will continue to serve as highway superintendent as his case works its way through the system.

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