A former Geneva police officer who admitted to dozens of drug-related crimes was sentenced Thursday to weekends in jail and five years of probation, bringing one of the region’s most closely watched public corruption cases closer to a conclusion.
Ontario County Judge Fred Reed sentenced Michael Tapscott to serve 16 weekends in jail and five years of probation following his guilty plea to 40 charges spread across two indictments. The sentence was negotiated earlier this year between Reed and Tapscott’s attorney.
Tapscott was arrested in May 2025 and resigned from the Geneva Police Department one day before charges were filed. He was later indicted on multiple felony counts of criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor drug possession charges, official misconduct counts and petit larceny. A second indictment filed in February added additional felony drug charges and misconduct allegations. Tapscott ultimately pleaded guilty to all counts.
Wayne County District Attorney Christine Callanan, who was appointed special prosecutor in the case, said the former officer’s actions represented a serious breach of public trust. Tapscott is scheduled to begin serving his sentence this weekend.
The case has already led to one additional conviction. Earlier this month, former Geneva police officer Nathan Jacon pleaded guilty to seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and received a conditional discharge. Both Jacon and Tapscott are barred from working in law enforcement in New York.
Two related cases remain pending. Geneva Police Sgt. David Felice, who remains on paid administrative leave, faces charges including drug possession, tampering with physical evidence and official misconduct. William B. McGowan of Newark, a former member of the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Campus Safety staff, is also charged with tampering with physical evidence.
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