District Attorney Michael Violante's statement on Donovan case

Courts

Related Photos

District Attorney Michael Violante talks with concerned citizens at the 18th Street Community Resource Center in this 2009 file photo. The DA released a statement on the Donovan DWI plea deal on Wednesday. Scott Schild

July 28, 2010

By Mark Scheer Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Wed Jul 28, 2010, 11:01 PM EDT

NIAGARA FALLS — The following is an exact transcript of Niagara County District Attorney Michael Violante’s press release issued Wednesday in response to public criticism of a plea deal he offered to the daughter of North Tonawanda Alderwoman Nancy Donovan. Sara E. Donovan was arrested for DWI earlier this month after a one-car accident but instead pleaded guilty to a parking ticket and a speeding ticket.

“Much has been said or written of my decision in the case involving Sara Donovan. Cases involving DWI are always taken very seriously by this office, especially those involving a property damage crash. And while I am required to administer justice evenly, I must review all of the relevant facts surrounding an arrest and treat each case individually and each person as an individual.

Plea offers such as the one involved in this case have occurred in the past and may very well occur in the future where a disposition outside the usual and common practices serve the interest of justice. The practice of plea bargaining at all court levels occurs on a daily basis and while some of those plea bargains may seem unusual to some citizens of Niagara County, I can assure you that the safety and well-being of all of the citizens of Niagara County is my utmost concern.

Unfortunately, in the case of Sara Donovan, the fact that this young woman is the daughter of a public official is drawing more attention than it would if the case involved the average citizen.

I will not make it a practice to explain or justify my decisions to the press in regards to plea bargain offers made by this office, however, I do not want the negative publicity of one case to overshadow the hard work and dedication of this office and all of the positive work done in the hundreds of cases handled on a daily basis.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Courts

Hayes sentence delayed in homicide case
Wilbert Hayes III was behind bars on Monday but not to begin serving his sentence for the slaying of Donald Tyree Nix.

February 6, 2012
In Lockport, Man faces extradition in Vegas fraud
A former Las Vegas resident picked up at the U.S.-Canadian border on Nevada securities fraud charges was ordered held for extradition from New York on Monday, after a judge rejected his claim of diplomatic immunity.

February 6, 2012
Another Mehta defendant gets probation
A Sanborn woman has escaped a jail term after her guilty plea to a federal drug charge.

February 2, 2012
Another deal made in Mehta case
A Falls man will spend a year on federal probation for his guilty plea in a wide-ranging probe of prescription drug abuse centered around former Falls physician Pravin Mehta.

January 29, 2012
Mehta defendant gets “time served”
A Falls resident caught up in a joint federal and local law enforcement investigation into prescription drug trafficking, involving former Falls physician Pravin Mehta, will not have to spend more time behind bars.

January 29, 2012
NU player gets dismissal in sex abuse case
A Niagara University basketball player, arrested in a sexual abuse related case has had that charge dismissed.

January 25, 2012
Case adjourned for Wilson teachers accused of having sex at Bills game
Two Wilson School District teachers charged with public lewdness had their case adjourned this week for a possible dismissal.

January 18, 2012 1 Photo
Drug mule pleads guilty in federal court
A man who ferried marijuana from a Canadian Indian Reservation to the Falls has cut a plea deal with federal prosecutors.

January 17, 2012
Gross prepared for prison term
A host of the Niagara Region’s famous and infamous are asking a federal judge to give Falls contractor and convicted felon John Gross a break later today.

January 5, 2012 1 Photo
Hayes opts for plea in stabbing death
For Wilbert Hayes III, going to trial was just too much of a risk.

November 29, 2011
More Courts Headlines

Courts

Search Results

Related Photos

District Attorney Michael Violante's statement on Donovan case

Site Map

Contact Us