Schuyler County District Attorney Joseph G. Fazzary has announced his retirement, bringing an end to a career spanning nearly 34 years in the office, including 28 as the county’s top prosecutor.
Fazzary, who informed the Schuyler County Legislature of his decision on Monday, will step down on December 31. First elected in 1997 at age 29, he was the youngest district attorney in New York at the time and now ranks third in seniority among current DAs statewide.
Throughout his tenure, Fazzary prosecuted numerous high-profile cases, including the murders of Amber Brockway, Daniel Bennett, and Theresa Ford. He has also been instrumental in advocating for crime victims, including spearheading the creation of the Justice Center of the Southern Tier in Montour Falls, which has provided support to over 400 victims across five counties.
In recognition of his contributions, Fazzary received the Hogan Award in 2024, the highest honor for a prosecutor in New York. Over his career, he has also trained prosecutors, lectured at schools, and served as a special prosecutor in cases where other district attorneys faced conflicts of interest.
“It has truly been an honor and privilege for me to serve the residents of Schuyler and many of the surrounding counties, as well as the People of the State of New York,” Fazzary said in his announcement. He credited his success to his dedicated staff, law enforcement partners, and longtime paralegal Robin Craver, who has worked alongside him for 28 years.
Fazzary has no immediate plans following his retirement other than taking time off with his family.
Meanwhile, Schuyler County Chief Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Hourihan has scheduled an announcement on February 26 at the Seneca Lake Events Center. Hourihan, who has worked closely with Fazzary, is expected to discuss his plans for the upcoming district attorney election.
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