Court Conviction in Margaretville DWI Case

MARGARETVILLE – Delaware County District Attorney Shawn J. Smith announced today that Linden A. Wranovics, 68, of Margaretville, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2026, in front of the Honorable John R. Fairbairn, III, in Middletown Town Court to Driving While Intoxicated, an Unclassified Misdemeanor. Wranovics was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge and given the maximum fine. His license was revoked for 6 months and if he obtains a license, he will be required to install an ignition interlock device in any vehicle he drives.  As part of his sentence, the defendant must submit to a drug and alcohol evaluation and comply with any treatment recommendations.  Failure to comply with these terms could result in the defendant being resentenced to one year in jail.

On December 1, 2025, NYS Trooper Siobhan Carey observed a Dodge Ram stop at the intersection of County Highway 38 and State Highway 30 and wait for an extended period of time.  The truck then failed to maintain its lane of travel, crossing the double yellow line and then going back over the white fog line on the eastern shoulder of the roadway. Trooper Carey initiated a traffic stop, and the truck abruptly pulled over into a parking lot. When approaching the vehicle, it was noted that the operator of the vehicle was not wearing his seatbelt.  Trooper Carey could detect an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle.  The driver, identified as Linden Wranovics, denied any alcohol consumption at that point and claimed the smell of alcohol to be coming from the “old” empty containers in the utility body.  After Trooper Carey requested that Wranovics exit the vehicle to conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, he showed signs of impairment.  Wranovics then submitted to a Preliminary Breath Test which provided a positive test result for alcohol.  A search of the vehicle revealed multiple empty Heineken bottles as well as a partially consumed Heineken placed behind the center console.  

District Attorney Shawn Smith commended Trooper Carey for her quick action and work on the case.  “Another impaired driver was removed from our roads before anyone got hurt.”

Shawn J. Smith

District Attorney

Delaware County