Rochester Judge Busted For Driving Drunk On Her Way To Work


Each year, more than 1.4 million people are arrested for a DUI first offense, not to mention DWIs and other such misdemeanors. On Saturday morning, Feb. 20, 34-year-old Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio joined their ranks.

A police car rushes to the emergency call with lights turned on

Astacio was stopped by state troopers of Interstate 490 as she was on her way to Rochester court. Officials noted that her vehicle seemed to have been damaged in what might have been a one-car crash, said the Democrat and Chronicle.

The trooper who observed the property damage on Astacio’s car was unclear of the extent of the damage,

Judge Charles Crimi took over her duties for the day, says Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley.

Astacio was not injured during the incident and was released with a ticket; she refused to take a Breathalyzer test and was charged with misdemeanor while intoxicated. She was, however, presented with an appearance ticket and will appear in court on March 11.

Democrat Astacio was elected to her office in 2014, and joined Monroe County District’s Office in 2007, and moved (ironically) to the drunken driving bureau in 2009.

She ran against two other Democrats in a September primary before running unopposed in the general election.

Astacio, who graduated from Irondequoit High School, worked as a senior district attorney in the Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Bureau. She started her own criminal defense practice in 2011.

Investigation into this case is still ongoing. Representatives of state court have refused to comment, and Astacio herself has declined to comment.


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