Impaired Driving Case Guilty Plea

DELHI – District Attorney Shawn Smith announced today that on July 1, Steven Caiati, 47, of Starlight, Pennsylvania, appeared before the Honorable Judge John L. Hubbard in Delaware County Court and pleaded guilty to one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E Felony, and one count of Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, an Unclassified Misdemeanor.  

Prior to pleading guilty, the defendant admitted that he was under the influence of methemphetamine while he was driving on a public highway. The defendant also admitted that when he was being pulled over, he attempted to conceal his remaining stash of methemphetamine so that the police could not find it. 

As a result of the conviction, Caiati will be required to pay a fine of $1,270 while also having his driver’s license suspended for six months. Caiati was sentenced to time served (approximately 90 days) and extradited to Pennsylvania where his parole will be violated as a result of this felony conviction.  

On March 19, 2025, Deputy Lucas Elmore of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office made a routine traffic stop for vehicle equipment violations and located methamphetamine and other contraband in Caiati’s vehicle during a search. He also found Caiati to be violating other vehicle regulatory violations while operating without a seatbelt or proper license. Caiati subsequently failed a drug influence evaluation.  

Delaware County District Attorney Shawn Smith commended Deputy Elmore and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office for a thorough investigation. Smith stated, “As a result of Deputy Elmore’s attention to detail, this routine traffic stop led to a felony conviction and the removal of a dangerous driver from our roads.” 

Shawn J. Smith

Delaware County District Attorney