An Auburn man has rejected a deal to plead guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide for allegedly killing a 67-year-old woman in January.
Christopher G. Dewitt, 31, rejected the deal in Cayuga County Court on Thursday, District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV. It carried a sentence of seven to 21 years in state prison.
Dewitt's case will now be presented to a grand jury soon, Grome Antonacci said.Â
The defendant's attorney, David Silverberg, declined comment to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV.
Christopher Dewitt
Dewitt is accused of striking Cynthia Stockwell with his vehicle Jan. 10 on North Street. According to the Auburn Police Department, he was driving southbound at a high rate of speed when he crossed into the opposite lane and failed to stop at a signal. Stockwell was taken to Auburn Community Hospital after being struck, and passed away later that day.
Dewitt was initially charged with the Class D felonies of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and operating a motor vehicle while ability impaired by drugs, plus several traffic infractions.
The Class B felony of aggravated vehicular homicide was added after a toxicology report for Dewitt was completed.Â
His previous attorney, Joe Sapio, told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV in March he wanted to review all the body camera footage of officers who responded to the accident before making a decision about the plea offer.Â
A car-pedestrian accident took place at the intersection of North Street and Lansing Street in Auburn on Jan. 10.
Kevin Rivoli, Ë®¹ûÅÉAV
Executive Editor David Wilcox can be reached at (315) 282-2245 or david.wilcox@lee.net.
