A Cayuga County man is facing multiple charges after deputies say he struck a woman with a crutch while she was holding a baby — and left a loaded shotgun unsecured in a home with children.
Matthew J. Koziol, 42, of Scipio, was arrested by sheriff’s deputies around 8 a.m. on September 27. He faces three misdemeanor charges: assault in the third degree, endangering the welfare of a child, and failure to safely store firearms in the first degree.
The incident began just after 1:30 a.m., when deputies responded to a domestic dispute at a home in Scipio. Investigators allege that during an argument, Koziol hit the victim in the leg with a medical crutch, causing visible swelling and pain — all while she was holding an infant.
During the investigation, deputies also found a loaded shotgun left unsecured and in plain view inside the residence. Authorities noted that multiple people under 18 live in the home.
Koziol later turned himself in at the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, where he was processed and held for CAP Court. He was released on his own recognizance and is due back in Scipio Town Court on October 6 at 6 p.m.
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