MIDDLETOWN DRIVER CONVICTED IN DWAI DRUG CASE

MIDDLETOWN – District Attorney Shawn Smith announced today that Justin Sineno, 43, of Holtsville, NY, pleaded guilty in Middletown Court on November 20, to one count of Driving a Motor Vehicle While Ability Impaired by Drugs, an Unclassified Misdemeanor and was placed on one year of interim probation.  As part of his probation, he will have to attend a Victim Impact Panel, an Impaired Driver Program if eligible, and his license will be suspended.

On July 4, 2025, Margaretville State Trooper Siobhan Carey was assisting with traffic control for the fireworks when a car came through the intersection first attempting to make a left-hand turn and then a right when the driver was stopped.  The driver identified as Justin Sineno then appeared to have a medical emergency when Trooper Carey conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Tests on him.  After refusing EMS help, Sineno continued the SFSTs that indicated obvious signs of impairment.  He was then brought to the State Police barracks where Trooper Timothy Murray, a certified Drug Recognition Expert, performed a comprehensive evaluation on the defendant and it was determined that he was impaired by drugs.

District Attorney Smith commended the diligent work of Margaretville State Troopers Carey and Murray on this case. “I am proud of the work our law enforcement team does to remove dangerous drivers from our roads.  DWI cases require a lot of work from the arresting officer.  Troopers Carey and Murray have demonstrated their willingness to successfully take on those challenges.”

Senior Special Assistant District Attorney David Rikard prosecuted the case.