Former NYS Environmental Conservation Police Officer Ken Basile of Wellsville was found guilty this morning of obstruction of justice, a class A misdemeanor. When Amity Town Justice Steven Presutti read the verdict, Basile lowered and shook his head in apparent dismay. However, the judge found Basile not guilty of official misconduct.
Basile, a former DEC officer assigned to Allegany County, was accused of leaking sensitive law enforcement activities to drug dealers.
Basile and his attorney Timothy Rosell opted for a bench trial before Presutti. The nearly four hour trial was held May 25th. During the proceeding, Basile called the prosecution witnesses "liars."
Basile has 30 days to appeal the verdict. The Wellsville man remains free on his own recognizance. The Probation Department will now conduct a presentence investigation. Sentencing was set for August 30 at 5:30 p.m.
After court was adjourned, Assistant District Attorney Mike Finn said it was "a just outcome." He heaped significant praise on State Police Investigator Scott Cicirello, who "spearheaded the investigation." Finn added that Inv. Cicirello " provided all the elements for a guilty verdict." Finn said he was pleased that the court saw fit to recognize the investigative efforts of the New York State Police.
