Latest news with #ChemungCountyDistrictAttorney'sOffice
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Jeanine Pirro's career trajectory: From law review to the capital's top prosecutor
Not every federal appointment stems from quiet merit; some are thunderous, drawing attention not just for who is chosen, but for what they represent. Jeanine Pirro's confirmation as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia is one such moment, an appointment steeped in controversy, allegiance, and ideology. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But beneath the headlines, behind the firebrand persona that once lit up cable news, lies a rigorous academic foundation that launched a lifelong legal career. Long before she was a Fox News icon or a trusted voice in Donald Trump's political orbit, Jeanine Ferris Pirro was a diligent student, a driven legal mind, and a woman determined to stand out in the male-dominated world of law. The formative years: Ambition at an early age Born on June 2, 1951, in Elmira, New York, to Lebanese-American parents, Pirro knew by the age of six that she wanted to be an attorney. It wasn't a childish whim but a guiding ambition that defined her academic path. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in just three years, a pace that foreshadowed the intensity she would later bring to her legal and media careers. While still in high school, she interned at the Chemung County District Attorney's Office, an unusually early exposure to criminal justice that would shape her approach to prosecution in years to come. Academic credentials: A career built on legal rigour Pirro pursued her undergraduate studies at the University at Buffalo, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. But it was at Albany Law School where she truly made her mark. There, she earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1975, graduating with distinction and serving as an editor of the Albany Law Review, a role reserved for top-performing students with proven analytical and writing skills. Her academic record at Albany positioned her for competitive roles in the legal field, and shortly after graduating, she joined the Westchester County District Attorney's Office as an Assistant District Attorney, becoming one of the few women in that office during the mid-1970s. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Legal knowledge meets television stardom Pirro's legal scholarship didn't fade when she transitioned to television. Her commentary, while often polarizing, was informed by decades of experience and a deep understanding of the law. Whether as a legal analyst during the O.J. Simpson trial or later as host of Justice with Judge Jeanine, she deployed her academic foundation to connect legal principles with public discourse. Her seven published books, including Liars, Leakers, and Liberals, draw not only from political opinion but also legal argumentation and rhetorical structuring rooted in formal training. From education to execution: The D.C. appointment When Donald Trump named Pirro as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia in May 2025 and saw her confirmed by the Senate on August 2, it wasn't just a political elevation. It marked the culmination of a career that began with careful study of case law and constitutional texts. The same woman who once edited scholarly legal articles will now oversee some of the most consequential federal prosecutions in the nation's capital. Critics argue that her Fox News rhetoric and allegiance to Trump overshadow her qualifications. But even her harshest detractors rarely question her academic record or her legal acumen. Her law school credentials, judicial experience, and prosecutorial background form a foundation that, at least on paper, supports the authority of her new post. A legacy rooted in law Jeanine Pirro's path to power has never been conventional. But while her media persona commands headlines, her ascent began with the quiet, disciplined work of legal education. From the halls of Albany Law School to the corridors of federal power, her story is one of ambition, academic rigor, and relentless pursuit. Whether her tenure in Washington serves justice or stirs controversy, one truth remains: it all started with a young woman who believed that the law was her calling—and had the academic record to prove it.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Law enforcement officials and DAs hold state funding discussion for new technology
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) — Law enforcement officials throughout Chemung County were in Elmira on Tuesday with state representatives and district attorneys from at least two counties to discuss recent state funding bringing new crime-fighting technology to the area. The group convened at the Chemung County District Attorney's Office to discuss statistics, funding, and public safety efforts that have worked in Elmira and around the state. Joseph Popcun, executive deputy commissioner at the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, spoke directly with the group to go through the benefits of the technology grants, see what crime mitigation tactics are working, and discuss the Gun Involve Violence Elimination Program and services for victims. Popcun said that the state wants to help reach areas of unmet need, so bringing vital technology to help combat crime is important. Corning funeral director arrested in Pa predator sting 'We want to reach communities like Chemung County, Elmira, where we recognize there were potential areas of unmet need,' Popcun said. 'So, hearing today about how some of this technology is being put to work, to identify shootings, to respond quicker, to look at the ballistics casings to tie shootings together and then ultimately to support a prosecution to make sure people are held accountable,' Popcun said. Some of the technology already helping Elmira includes the Flock Raven System set up to detect gunshot audio in the city. Elmira Police Chief Kristen Thorne already noted a few cases where the system helped officers arrest suspects involved in the shootings. As for the new equipment, the grant funding EPD received allowed it to purchase two new SWAT robots, a crisis negotiation phone, and a new pole camera. This new equipment replaces outdated technology and will be used in the field and during training sessions. Accompanying the physical equipment is new software that the police department and detective bureau can use to work through cases more efficiently. The police department isn't the only area benefitting from the new technology Chemung County District Attorney Weeden Wetmore noted that the amount of physical evidence that's attainable now is important in prosecuting cases. Pine City man faces felony charge after domestic incident Wetmore said during trials when he has videos and photographs from cameras and other technology throughout the city, it helps tremendously. The group added funding for victim services as a huge part of this initiative, with Wetmore noting the importance of helping the victims. 'We're here to seek justice, and justice is not just about prosecuting individuals, the bad guys, but it's also about making the victim whole,' Wetmore said. 'With this, with the victim's assistance, the money that's given they are provided resources they can utilize, whether it be counseling, whether it be a home for a short period of time, there are various things that can help out the victims, so that's a very important component of this,' Wetmore said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ithaca woman sentenced more than 10 years in prison for assault of Investigator Theetge
BIG FLATS, N.Y. (WETM) — An Ithaca woman will spend time in prison for more than 10 years after she was sentenced on Monday morning for crimes connected to the extreme injury and assault of Chemung County Sheriff's Investigator Mike Theetge, according to the Chemung County District Attorney's Office. Fatiuna Massaline, 25, was sentenced on Monday, May 19, to 12 ½ years in prison, followed by five years of probation for her conviction of assault on a police officer, the DA's office said. Massaline will also serve a second sentence at the same time of seven years and five years of probation for her conviction of assault in the second degree. Ithaca woman found guilty on all charges for assault on Investigator Theetge Massaline was convicted on Friday, March 14, 2025, for her involvement in the incident on March 29, 2024, where state police said troopers and deputies were working a retail theft operation at the Target in Big Flats. During this incident, Dominick Haley, the other person Massaline was attempting to shoplift with, tried to leave the store with items of considerable value in a shopping cart without paying, before he was caught by Target security. Shortly after, a 2016 black Chevy Impala tried to pull up to the front of the store to pick up Haley, with Massaline declared the getaway driver. Law enforcement blocked the vehicle, and it started moving towards Haley to pick him up at the back of the parking lot. Theetge then chased Haley as he ran towards the back of the car, and tackled him on top vehicle. Ithaca man sentenced more than a decade in prison for assault of Investigator Theetge Massaline then sped up and jolted the wheel of the car, causing both men to fall off, with Theetge landing on the pavement, striking his head and back on the ground, leaving him with a skull fracture and brain bleed. Haley then tried to run away from the scene but was caught a short distance away quickly after, while Massaline fled in her car and drove a little bit before ditching the car and running on foot to the Lowe's parking lot where she called an Uber and took it back to Ithaca, where she was arrested the next day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Lindley man indicted on weapons charges
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) — A Lindley man was indicted in April on multiple charges relating to an arrest in the same month, in which the Chemung County District Attorney's Office said he was found to have an illegal gun on him. Officials say Timothy Westervelt, 30, from Lindley, was indicted back on April 10 on the following charges: criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. Previous story: Lindley man arrested on weapons charge after traffic stop in Elmira The indictment states that on April 7, 2025, Westervelt knowingly had a loaded SCCY 9mm semi-automatic pistol with a scratched-off serial number in the City of Elmira. Prior reporting states these charges followed a traffic stop where he was found to have an active warrant for his arrest. At this time, police said he was found to have drugs and a gun on him. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Yahoo
Woman indicted on DWI charges after incident with child in car
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – A woman has been indicted on DWI charges after she allegedly operated a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol with a child in the car. Krystle M. Scriven was indicted on Jan. 23, 2025, on two counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated and two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, as reported by the Chemung County District Attorney's Office. Canisteo man arrested on theft and drug charges The indictment states that Scriven was charged after she drove a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol on East Water Street in Elmira on Jan. 11, 2025, with a child in the car. The indictment further states that Scriven had a BAC of .18 at the time of this incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
