Former Rochester judge must face trial on weapons charge

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - A judge has denied a request to dismiss a felony weapons charge against a former upstate New York judge.

The Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester reports Ontario County Judge William Kocher on Thursday declined to dismiss a weapons charge against former Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio. She’s charged with trying to purchase a shotgun at a sporting goods store while she was on probation for a driving under the influence conviction.

Astacio’s attorney had argued that the weapons charge wasn’t “consistent with the law” and a violation of the Second Amendment. He had also questioned whether an unloaded shotgun qualified as a “dangerous weapon.”

Kocher wrote in a decision that the court’s restriction was appropriate.

Astacio will likely face trial on the charge next year. She was removed from the bench in October.

___

Information from: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, http://www.democratandchronicle.com