NORWICH – The Chenango County Court convened for an afternoon session last Wednesday, June 15, where the case of Casie L. Brooks was heard. Assistant District Attorney Laura Parker appeared to represent the people of Chenango County, while The Honorable Judge James E. Downey presided over matters.

Brooks entered a plea of guilty to the single charge of assault in the second degree, a class D felony.

It was alleged that on Dec. 12, 2015, at a residence on West Main Street, in the village of Sherburne, Brooks caused physical injury to a person over 65 years of age, when she, herself, was over 10 years younger. After an argument, Brooks allegedly threw a glass candle jar at the victim, who was 82 years old at the time of the incident. The victim suffered a two inch laceration to her face, and required stitches.

After she was sworn in, Judge Downey asked Brooks a series of questions. He first asked Brooks if she was at the residence at the time of the incident, to which she replied yes. He then proceeded to ask if she assaulted the victim, to which Brooks also replied yes. He concluded by asking if she intended to hit the victim, and if she intended to cause physical harm to the victim, to which Brooks also replied yes.

Once Judge Downey was satisfied with Brooks' admissions of guilt, he gave a chance for Parker to speak on behalf of the people. She said, “I just want to further state that {the victim} was 82 years old at the time of this incident. This is a violent offense that happened to an elderly victim. A sentence of three years is appropriate in this case.”