NATIONAL NEWS

Vermont deputy indicted in New York state brawl, shooting

Mar 29, 2023, 11:33 AM | Updated: 5:22 pm

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A Vermont lawman who was shot multiple times by police responding to gunfire in the historic center of Saratoga Springs has been indicted on charges including attempted murder and possessing a firearm in a “sensitive location.”

Vito Caselnova, a sheriff’s deputy in Rutland County, Vermont, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday.

The charges came more than four months after a chaotic sidewalk brawl and series of gunshots left three people, including the deputy, wounded, and questions about who shot who. Three other men involved in the fight — one of whom police initially accused of also firing a gun — were charged only with throwing punches.

Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said the decision to levy the most serious charges against Caselnova, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, was made by a grand jury. In a press statement, she criticized the city’s public safety commissioner and mayor for their initial account of how the violence unfolded, calling it “a narrative based on speculation, not evidence.”

Caselnova’s lawyer, Greg Teresi, maintained his client was innocent.

“We’re still of the opinion that he’s a victim of this case. He had the authority under New York State law to use deadly physical force when faced with deadly physical force,” Teresi told The Associated Press.

Caselnova, who lives in Glen Falls, New York, was with his girlfriend on Nov. 20 when he visited Saratoga Springs, a college town known for its horse racing, restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. He brought his gun with him, authorities said, despite a new state law barring people from bringing firearms into many different types of “sensitive places,” including establishments where alcohol is served.

In their initial account, police said the deputy had gotten into a barroom argument with a group of men that spilled into the street, and that he and another man had pulled out guns and started shooting. One man, Alexander Colon, 28, of Utica, suffered a gunshot wound that prosecutors now say was fired by Caselnova.

Saratoga Springs police on the scene said they opened fire when Caselnova, who was in civilian clothing, did not drop his weapon. The deputy was hit several times but survived, as did Colon, local police said. Caselnova’s girlfriend was wounded by a stray bullet fired by the responding police officers.

After the grand jury investigation, however, Colon was only charged with attempted assault, a misdemeanor. Two other men from Utica were also charged with misdemeanor attempted assault. The grand jury didn’t accuse any of those men of having a gun or firing one.

Colon’s attorney, Anthony LaFache, didn’t immediately return a phone message Wednesday.

Video from a street camera showed people fighting that night on the sidewalk, then scattering.

Caselnova, 25, faces an eight-count indictment that in addition to attempted murder includes assault, reckless endangerment, menacing and harassment.

The sensitive location charge is a felony under New York’s gun laws, which were rewritten last summer after a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling and continue to be challenged in federal courts. The new rules that make it illegal to carry a firearm inside a place that serves alcohol are the subject of a court challenge, but are still in effect.

“We’re in the process of doing research on how the decisions that were made with those federal court challenges impact that count of the indictment,” Teresi said.

Caselnova was released on $50,000 bail, his lawyer said.

Phone messages left for the Rutland County Sheriff’s Office were not immediately returned.

___

Maysoon Khan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Maysoon Khan on Twitter.

National News

Associated Press

California governor signs law barring schoolbook bans based on racial, gender teachings

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Monday to ban school boards from rejecting textbooks based on their teachings about the contributions of people from different racial backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities. Newsom called the measure “long overdue.” “From Temecula to Tallahassee, fringe ideologues across the country are attempting to […]

10 minutes ago

Associated Press

Court appointee proposes Alabama congressional districts to provide representation to Black voters

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A court-appointed special master on Monday submitted three proposals for new congressional districts in Alabama as federal judges oversee the drawing of new lines to provide greater representation for Black voters. The three proposals all create a second district where Black voters comprise a majority of the voting age population or […]

2 hours ago

Associated Press

Dolphin that shared a tank with Lolita the orca at Miami Seaquarium moves to SeaWorld San Antonio

MIAMI (AP) — A Pacific white-sided dolphin who shared a tank with Lolita the orca at the Miami Seaquarium until Lolita died last month has been moved to SeaWorld San Antonio, where he will live with others of his species, officials said Monday. Li’i will be joining other Pacific white-sided dolphins in San Antonio, some […]

2 hours ago

Associated Press

EXPLAINER: What is saltwater intrusion and how is it affecting Louisiana’s drinking water?

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — For months, residents in the southeast corner of Louisiana have relied on bottled water for drinking and cooking, with the water from the faucet coming out salty. Plaquemines Parish Councilman Mark “Hobbo” Cognevich, who represents the affected area, said grocery stores are constantly having to restock plastic water bottles, neighbors […]

3 hours ago

Associated Press

At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds

ATLANTA (AP) — At least 360 employees of Georgia’s state prison system have been arrested on accusations of smuggling contraband into prisons since 2018, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports, with 25 more employees fired for smuggling allegations but not arrested. The newspaper finds that nearly 8 in 10 of Georgia Department of Corrections employees arrested were […]

3 hours ago

Associated Press

Alabama inmate opposes being ‘test subject’ for new nitrogen execution method

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama inmate would be the test subject for the “experimental” execution method of nitrogen hypoxia, his lawyers argued, as they asked judges to deny the state’s request to carry out his death sentence using the new method. In a Friday court filing, attorneys for Kenneth Eugene Smith asked the Alabama […]

3 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Swedish Cyberknife...

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

September is a busy month on the sports calendar and also holds a very special designation: Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Ziply Fiber...

Dan Miller

The truth about Gigs, Gs and other internet marketing jargon

If you’re confused by internet technologies and marketing jargon, you’re not alone. Here's how you can make an informed decision.

Education families...

Education that meets the needs of students, families

Washington Virtual Academies (WAVA) is a program of Omak School District that is a full-time online public school for students in grades K-12.

Emergency preparedness...

Emergency planning for the worst-case scenario

What would you do if you woke up in the middle of the night and heard an intruder in your kitchen? West Coast Armory North can help.

Innovative Education...

The Power of an Innovative Education

Parents and students in Washington state have the power to reimagine the K-12 educational experience through Insight School of Washington.

Medicare fraud...

If you’re on Medicare, you can help stop fraud!

Fraud costs Medicare an estimated $60 billion each year and ultimately raises the cost of health care for everyone.

Vermont deputy indicted in New York state brawl, shooting