OWASCO -The Owasco Town Board decided to take no action in the case of allegations against its highway superintendent, accused by New York State Police of falsifying a time sheet.
The case goes back to July 2006 when town highway superintendent Michael L. Wilson, 47, of Owasco Road, was accused of submitting a falsified time sheet for another town employee, his son.
The board issued this written statement after conferring in executive session on Tuesday from 3 to 4:27 p.m.
“The Town Board has reviewed all of its legal options. In view of the fact that this situation was addressed in 2006 to the satisfaction of the then town board, therefore this town board believes that no action is necessary at this time, and we choose to let the judicial process take its course.”
Town board members were asked by town attorney Ricardo Galbato, also town attorney in 2006, not to comment on the proceedings.
Wilson was charged with one felony count, first-degree, for offering a false instrument for filing and a misdemeanor count of second-degree falsifying
business records, according to state police.
He was issued an appearance ticket and arraigned in the town of Aurelius before town justice Raymond Lockwood on July 24, 2008.
He could not appear in the Owasco town court because his wife is the town court clerk, so his arraignment took place in another Cayuga County town court - Aurelius.
Wilson was ordered to reappear in Aurelius at a later date and is expected to appear with his attorney, Norman Chirco.
District Attorney Jon Budelmann said when Wilson appears with his council for a low level felony, one possible resolution would be to plea to a misdemeanor. If there is no resolution, he said, it could go to the grand jury.
Wilson's attorney, Norman Chirco, said the District Attorney has six months to make a decision about whether or not this could go to the grand jury.
“We are very early on in the process,” Chirco said. “He just got arraigned last week, so we are in the starting blocks.”
Chirco said the state police have been investigating this for a long time, and he has a lot of questions. He said he believe his client's next appearance in Aurelius is on August 6.
“It probably will be adjourned again,” he said. He needs time to gather the information necessary to defend his client. He will confer with the district attorney before his client enters a plea.
“It's going to take a lot of time,” Chirco said.
Last August, the state comptroller's office and state police investigators reviewed government files in the Town of Owasco.
These charges apparently took the town by surprise, as they considered the “clerical error” found in 2006 the result of no wrongdoing.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
The board issued this written statement after conferring in executive session on Tuesday from 3 to 4:27 p.m.
“The Town Board has reviewed all of its legal options. In view of the fact that this situation was addressed in 2006 to the satisfaction of the then town board, therefore this town board believes that no action is necessary at this time, and we choose to let the judicial process take its course.”
Town board members were asked by town attorney Ricardo Galbato, also town attorney in 2006, not to comment on the proceedings.
Wilson was charged with one felony count, first-degree, for offering a false instrument for filing and a misdemeanor count of second-degree falsifying
business records, according to state police.
He was issued an appearance ticket and arraigned in the town of Aurelius before town justice Raymond Lockwood on July 24, 2008.
He could not appear in the Owasco town court because his wife is the town court clerk, so his arraignment took place in another Cayuga County town court - Aurelius.
Wilson was ordered to reappear in Aurelius at a later date and is expected to appear with his attorney, Norman Chirco.
District Attorney Jon Budelmann said when Wilson appears with his council for a low level felony, one possible resolution would be to plea to a misdemeanor. If there is no resolution, he said, it could go to the grand jury.
Wilson's attorney, Norman Chirco, said the District Attorney has six months to make a decision about whether or not this could go to the grand jury.
“We are very early on in the process,” Chirco said. “He just got arraigned last week, so we are in the starting blocks.”
Chirco said the state police have been investigating this for a long time, and he has a lot of questions. He said he believe his client's next appearance in Aurelius is on August 6.
“It probably will be adjourned again,” he said. He needs time to gather the information necessary to defend his client. He will confer with the district attorney before his client enters a plea.
“It's going to take a lot of time,” Chirco said.
Last August, the state comptroller's office and state police investigators reviewed government files in the Town of Owasco.
These charges apparently took the town by surprise, as they considered the “clerical error” found in 2006 the result of no wrongdoing.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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psychompg wrote on Aug 1, 2008 5:47 PM:
james_13021 wrote on Jul 31, 2008 9:13 AM:
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bizzaro-world wrote on Jul 31, 2008 8:23 AM:
rmg13021 wrote on Jul 31, 2008 5:43 AM:
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psychompg wrote on Jul 30, 2008 8:23 PM: