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The petit larceny case against former State Assembly candidate Joe Mastroianni has been reassigned to another court after both village justices recused themselves. Mastroianni, a member of the Rotterdam Town Board, was charged with petit larceny after allegedly stealing a campaign mailer from a mailbox in Scotia, New York. The incident was reportedly captured on a doorbell camera.
The reasons for the recusal of Scotia Justice Michael Boyle and Acting Justice Michael Godlewski remain unclear. Mastroianni's attorney, Brian Mercy, confirmed the reassignment of the case but was not informed why the justices removed themselves from the case. The court file will be sent to the county, which will decide which local court will handle the case.
Mastroianni, who lost his bid for the 111th Assembly seat to incumbent Angelo Santabarbara, has been cooperating with authorities and has expressed frustration that he cannot discuss the alleged incident due to its ongoing nature. Despite calls for his resignation, mostly from Democrats, Mastroianni has remained in his elected post in Rotterdam.
The case has garnered national attention and is being closely watched as it progresses through the legal system.