A judge says he will rule next week on whether Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio was-or-wasn’t drunk when a state trooper found her and her disabled car alongside I-490 back in February.
The trooper testified at the judge’s trial today that he found Astacio in her SUV with two flat tires and front end damage consistent with being in an accident. The vehicle was also facing the wrong way.
Trooper Chris Kowalski said he smelled alcohol and noticed the judge’s eyes were glassy. She passed two field sobriety tests but refused to do a physical test, at which point the trooper arrested her.
Defense Attorney Ed Fiandach asked if troopers had been able to find an accident scene that might account for the damage to Judge Astacio’s car, and the answer was “no.” Fiandach contends there was no accident and the judge wasn’t drunk.
Judge Astacio did not take the stand herself.
Canandaigua City Court Judge Stephen Aronson says he will consider the evidence and rule next week. He and Prosecutor Zach Maurer were brought in from Canandaigua to handle the case which was tried in Judge Astacio’s own court.