An Auburn man whose 2019 jury trial conviction was overturned has rejected a plea offer in Cayuga County Court. He will face a new trial in April 2022.
Justin Tillmon, 35, was convicted of 20 crimes in March 2019, according to The Citizen. He was convicted of second-degree assault for injuring two Auburn police officers who tried to arrest him in 2018 while responding to an alleged incident of domestic violence. He was also convicted of first degree criminal contempt for violating an order of protection, along with 17 misdemeanor charges.
In 2021, a state appellate court reversed Tillmon’s convictions and sent the case back to Cayuga County Court for a new trial. The Appellate Division-Fourth Department reversed the conviction after finding the court court improperly handled a potential juror who stated that he wasn’t sure whether he could be impartial given his family’s history with domestic violence.
Tillmon’s new bail hearing was held on Thursday, January 27. Judge Thomas Leone urged Tillmon to accept the plea deal, but Tillmon insisted on moving forward with the new trial instead.
Leone approved bail at $200,000 cash or $20,000 bond. Tillmon posted bail and was released later Thursday evening. His new trial is set for April 25, 2022.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]