Former Horseheads Trustee pleads guilty to July 4 DWI crash
Updated at 3:03 p.m. to include a statement from the mayor of Horseheads
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect the fact that Cronin was removed from his position as a Horseheads Village Trustee at the time of his guilty plea. As of April 9, Cronin is no longer serving on the board.
PENN YAN, N.Y. (WETM) — Now Former Horseheads Village Trustee Mark Cronin pled guilty to charges related to a July 4, 2023, crash that injured five people.
According to the Yates County District Attorney’s Office, Cronin pleaded guilty to first-degree vehicular assault (a class D felony) and DWI (a misdemeanor) on April 9. He faces a sentence of one to three years in prison.
Horseheads Village Trustee indicted on charges following July 4 DWI crash
According to the Yates County Sheriff’s Office and Cronin’s indictment, Cronin was driving a pickup truck on Second Milo Road around 9 p.m. on July 4, 2023, while under the influence of alcohol and didn’t stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Second Milo Road and Old Bath Road. Cronin’s truck hit a vehicle with two adults and six children inside. The indictment said that five of the people inside of the vehicle were severely injured.
The Yates County Sheriff’s Office arrested Cronin after the crash, and he was indicted on Dec. 28, 2023. The DA’s office offered Cronin a plea deal at the time of the indictment, which he rejected. Cronin’s sentencing is scheduled for July 11, 2024.
Cronin joined the Village of Horseheads’ Board of Trustees in 2019, and his position as trustee was vacated at the time he pled guilty, according to the mayor of Horseheads, Kevin Adams. As an elected public official, Cronin could not be removed from his position prior to being convicted.
“Former Village Trustee Mark Cronin pleaded guilty to Vehicular Assault in the 1st degree. Per Section 30 of New York State Public Officer Law, this admission of guilt to a felony charge has resulted in the instantaneous vacancy of the Office of Trustee,” said Adams in a statement. “This day begins for the residents of the Village of Horseheads, who were represented by Mark Cronin, a move towards a renewed faith in their elected officials.”
Adams immediately appointed Ron Finefrock to the board at the time the seat was vacated.
“It is with appreciation I have appointed Ron Finefrock, trustee, to the Village Board, said Adams. “Ron, along with the other trustees and myself, commits to enacting a strategic vision for the Village to accelerate our community past this low point in the Board of Trustees’ history.”
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