Levittown Man Pleads Not Guilty in Utility Worker Assault

The Levittown man who allegedly beat up a Florida utility worker outside an East Meadow restaurant pleaded not guilty 3rd degree assault charges at his arraignment Tuesday.  

Thomas Libretto, 34, of Levittown, was then released by the judge without bail and issued a stay away order of protection for utility worker John Applewhite, 34, of Florida. Libretto is due back in court on Jan. 7, according to Newsday.

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The altercation started when Libretto reportedly noticed Applewhite urinating in the vicinity of his car in the parking lot of Texas Roadhouse in East Meadow on Nov. 9. After a verbal altercation, Applewhite allegedly kicked gravel into Libretto’s BMW, police said. 

The two began fighting and Libretto punched Applewhite in the face, breaking his nose and causing swelling to his eye, according to Nassau County Police Inspector Kenneth Lack. The Huffington Post later reported that Applewhite needed a plate in his face and a wire in his jaw due to the severity of the assault.

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The altercation was originally thought to have started because of Applewhite’s employment as a utility worker. Applewhite, a 12-year employee of Lakeland Electric, had come to Long Island to help repair power following Hurricane Sandy.