Mastroianni pleads not guilty in petit larceny case
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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- Former assembly candidate Joseph Mastroianni pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor petit larceny charge Monday morning. Mastroianni was charged with petit larceny after allegedly stealing his opponent’s political mailer from a home in October.
Mastroianni turned himself in to authorities in November and was issued an appearance ticket for one count of petit larceny. Days before he told NEWS10 he was cooperating in the investigation and with authorities.
The claims surfaced after Ring camera video appeared to show Mastroianni removing a campaign mailer for his opponent Angelo Santabarbara and replacing it with his own. Santabarbara was declared the winner in the 111th assembly district by earning more than 60 percent of the vote.
In November, the petit larceny case against Mastroianni was moved out of the village of Scotia to Schenectady City Court. Both village justices recused themselves from the case, his attorney Brian Mercy said.
Mastroianni is a member of the Rotterdam Town Board. He held a press event hours after the footage was released, where he said the incident was a deflection of real issues in the community.
Mastroianni was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to reappear on January 27.
In New York, Petit Larceny is a class A misdemeanor. He could face up to one year in jail and be ordered to pay a fine if convicted.