An Auburn man faces up to seven years in state prison after a Cayuga County jury convicted him of assaulting a police officer during a drunken driving arrest that left the officer with a partially severed ear requiring surgery.
Chad McMillan, 54, was found guilty following a three-day jury trial before Cayuga County Court Judge Jon E. Budelmann, according to the Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office. Jurors convicted McMillan of second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony, as well as misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
Prosecutors said the charges stemmed from a July 21, 2025 incident in which Auburn police officers were attempting to arrest McMillan following a DWI investigation. Evidence presented during the trial included eyewitness testimony, medical records, photographs and video footage reviewed by the jury.
According to prosecutors, McMillan intentionally resisted arrest and injured an officer while preventing the officer from carrying out a lawful duty. During the struggle, the officer suffered a severe laceration that partially severed his ear, requiring surgical reattachment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Amanda Casselman and Special Counsel to the District Attorney Mark Moody.
McMillan is scheduled to be sentenced in August. He faces a maximum aggregate determinate sentence of seven years in state prison followed by three years of post-release supervision.
District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci thanked jurors for their service and said the verdict demonstrates that those who resist lawful police actions and injure officers will be held accountable under the law.
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