A judge has declined to rule on suspended Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio’s alleged probation violations, at least until another court deals with the felony attempted criminal purchase of a weapon charge against her.
Astacio was in court today on charges of violating probation by trying to buy the gun at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Henrietta while being on probation, and of failing to attend court-ordered mental health treatment sessions. Defense Attorney Mark Foti argued that she didn’t try to buy a deadly weapon, since the gun wasn’t loaded. Judge Stephen Aronson said that argument might apply when the weapon charge against Astacio goes before a grand jury, but not in the case of a probation violation. He declined the motion to dismiss and ordered Judge Astacio to be back in court for a hearing on July 12th.
The criminal charges against Astacio go before a grand jury in late July. If the grand jury declines to indict her, Judge Aronson says the motion regarding her probation charge would be moot.