Opening statements were heard in Central Islip Tuesday for the father and son accused of dumping thousands of tons of contaminated debris in the Town of Islip.

Thomas Datre Sr. and Thomas Datre Jr. were arrested after toxic chemicals were found at four sites, including Roberto Clemente Park and a veterans housing complex in Hauppauge.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Murray said the Datres and four companies connected to them intentionally unloaded contaminated material to avoid the costs involved with legally disposing of it.

"This is about money, that's all it's about. It's a financially motivated crime," said Murray.

The defense countered by saying that the dumping was a political hit carried out by enemies of the Datres and that they never knowingly dumped any kind of toxic material at the sites.

Kevin Kearon, the attorney for Datre Jr., told jurors that the family is a major contributor to the Republican Party and had made enemies after reporting another crime in the Town of Islip. He also accused Suffolk District Attorney Tom Spota of "turning witnesses against the Datres."

"Everything about this case is a lie. Everything has been misrepresented. There are so many bad actors here, so many people with hostile intentions to the Datre family that it's mind-boggling," said Kearon.

Both sides told jurors that Roberto Clemente Park was once a legal Town of Islip dump. Prosecutors say that was 50 years ago and that the contaminants are very different than the ones most recently found. The defense says there's no true way to know.

The Datres are facing a 24-count indictment with charges including criminal mischief and endangering public health. Both men face two to seven years behind bars if convicted.

The trials of the other defendants named in the indictment will be held later this year. They include former Islip Town Parks Commissioner Joseph J. Montuori Jr., Montuori's executive secretary Brett Robinson, Christopher Grabe of Islandia Recycling and Ronald Cinciulli of Atlas Asphalt - a Deer Park paving company.