Corcoran Hamptons agent arrested for another drunk driving offense

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Corcoran agent Charlotte DePersia and an image from the accident provided to The Real Deal

Charlotte DePersia, one half of a one-time prominent East End brokerage power couple, was arrested late Saturday night on charges of driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, according to a felony complaint filed in Southampton criminal court yesterday.

DePersia, 57, reportedly swerved into the right lane of traffic on Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton near midnight, according to a source who witnessed the crash. DePersia allegedly struck the driver’s side of a BMW in the adjacent lane.

DePersia had “slurred speech and strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath,” according to the complaint, and was “unsteady on her feet.” On the night of the collision, DePersia allegedly said to officers: “I had an accident. I hit the other car; I hope I didn’t hurt anyone in the other car.” 

The source said she injured all four passengers inside the BMW, including a pregnant woman, but they are currently in stable condition.

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This is not the first such arrest for DePersia, an agent in the Corcoran Group’s East Hampton office. On Oct. 23, 2009, she was convicted of driving while intoxicated and had her license revoked, the complaint indicates.

Her husband, Gary DePersia, an associate broker with Corcoran, also based in the East Hampton office, was arrested in April 2009, also on DWI charges. He told The Real Deal that the case was closed and declined to comment further on that or his wife’s case, other than to say the couple had separated.

When contacted about the incident, Charlotte hung up on The Real Deal.

The Southampton town police confirmed the arrest but would not provide further details. The Bridgehampton fire department, which reportedly closed traffic for 45 minutes on Montauk Highway following the accident, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Suffolk County district attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment, although reports indicate that DePersia was arraigned yesterday.