SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - A former New York judge has been found not guilty of a felony charge of trying to illegally purchase a gun.
Former Rochester judge Leticia Astacio (uh-STAH’-see-oh) was acquitted by a jury Friday. She was accused of trying to buy a shotgun in violation of her probation stemming from a 2016 drunken driving conviction.
Deliberations began on Thursday at her trial in Syracuse.
Astacio was stripped of her judgeship last year after a series of incidents including the DWI conviction.
The Democrat and Chronicle says Astacio sobbed as jury members were polled for their verdicts.
She declined comment leaving court. But her attorney said an “extraordinary weight” has been lifted from his client.
On Monday, Astacio filed paperwork to run for a Rochester City Council seat.
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Information from: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, http://www.democratandchronicle.com
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