SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE – MICHAEL MINK
On February 1, 2016, a jury of 7 men and 5 women convicted Michael Mink, of Albany, New York, age 40, of the crimes of Driving While Intoxicated, and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the 1st Degree, class E felonies. The jury found that on February 20, 2014 the defendant was driving a gray Chrysler, while intoxicated, on Queens Highway in the Town of Rochester. At the time he was driving the vehicle, the defendant’s license had been revoked as a result of a prior felony DWI conviction.
The evidence at trial showed that on February 20, 2014, at approximately 9:30 pm, Deputy Kyle Frano, of the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office was responding to a 911 call for a fight on Cathy Jo Place in Accord, NY. While responding to that location, information was developed that the defendant had left the scene in a gray Chrysler sedan and was driving in an intoxicated condition on Queens Highway heading toward Route 209, intending to drive back to his residence in Albany. While this information was being relayed, Deputy Frano, observed the vehicle on Queens Highway. As Deputy Frano was turning around the gray Chrysler pulled into the Citgo gas station located on the corner of Queens Highway and Route 209. In the Citgo gas station parking lot Deputy Frano observed the defendant exiting the driver’s seat of the vehicle and his girlfriend coming around the vehicle. The defendant attempted to convince the Deputy that his girlfriend had been driving the vehicle. However, a video from the camera located in Deputy Frano’s police vehicle showed defendant’s girlfriend stating that she had not been operating the vehicle that night.
At trial, defendant’s girlfriend attempted to convince the jury that, despite what she said in the video, she had been the driver. Upon his arrest for DWI, the defendant had refused to submit to a breathalyzer test and the evidence of his refusal was presented to the jury.
This is the defendant’s fourth conviction for an alcohol related driving offense and second felony DWI. Assistant District Attorney Lisa Bondarenka prosecuted the case. The defendant was represented by Kevin O’Brien, Esq. of Anelli Xavier.