Altmar, NY -- The two men charged in the assault of an elderly Ithaca man in the Salmon River in April pleaded not guilty Monday night in Albion town court. Patrick A. Mahoney, 42, of State Route 13, Altmar, and Robert R. Mahoney III, 45, of county Route 15, Boylston, are charged with misdemeanor counts of assault and petit larceny....
Altmar, NY -- The two men charged in the assault of an elderly Ithaca man in the Salmon River in April pleaded not guilty Monday night in Albion town court.
Patrick A. Mahoney, 42, of State Route 13, Altmar, and Robert R. Mahoney III, 45, of county Route 15, Boylston, are charged with misdemeanor counts of assault and petit larceny. They also face a state environmental conservation charge of fighting in a fishing access area.
They will be back in Albion court July 5.
Neither Mahoney commented on the charges. Their lawyer, David Antonucci, of Watertown, said they are waiting to hear from Assistant District Attorney Mark Moody concerning the case.
“We are prepared to go to trial,” he said.
The Mahoneys are accused of kicking and punching William Murray, 62, repeatedly and holding his head below water during an incident April 8 at the Ellis Cove fishing access area in Albion. Some witnesses who were fishing nearby told police the men ran toward Murray before hitting him.
Antonucci said Murray was the aggressor and his clients were defending themselves.
The two misdemeanor charges can result in fines of up to $1,000 and jail time of up to one year. The DEC violation carries a fine up to $250 and imprisonment of up to 15 days. The Mahoneys, who work as river guides, could lose their state-issued guide licenses if found guilty of violating the state Environmental Conservation law or state Code of Rules and Regulations.