Mark Cronin, a trustee for the Village of Horseheads, is scheduled to appear before a grand jury on December 28 following his decision to decline a plea deal offered in his ongoing vehicular assault and DWI case.
Yates County District Attorney Todd Casella indicated that the deadline for Cronin to accept the deal had passed. The plea bargain proposed to Cronin included pleading guilty to second-degree vehicular assault and DWI, carrying a maximum sentence of 1-3 years in prison.
However, the court was open to considering a lesser sentence.
The charges against Cronin stem from a serious incident in July, when the 53-year-old failed to heed a stop sign at the intersection of Bath and Second Milo roads in Penn Yan. This failure resulted in a collision with another vehicle, causing it to overturn and land on its roof.
Cronin, who has been serving as a trustee in Horseheads since 2019 and was recently re-elected for a new term, now faces significant legal challenges. His decision to forgo the plea deal and opt for a grand jury hearing marks a pivotal moment in the case, which has drawn attention due to its severity and the involvement of a local elected official.
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