Trooper admits to official misconduct

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November 28, 2007

By DAN HEATH The Press Republican Wed Nov 28, 2007, 06:13 PM EST

KEESEVILLE — A former New York State trooper pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge of official misconduct.

Robert W. Czora, 39, was charged with the misdemeanor in November after an investigation by the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation in connection with an incident on Aug. 5.

Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said Corza pulled over a female driver from Massachusetts who was driving in excess of 100 miles per hour on Interstate 87 in the Town of AuSable.

Czora then drove the woman to a TD Banknorth ATM in Keeseville, where she withdrew $300.

She gave that money to Corza in the belief it was bail money that would allow her to leave and return to court at a later date.

Corza never issued a ticket to the woman, Wylie said.

After a period of time, the woman contacted the AuSable Town Court, but she was unable to get any information because no ticket had been issued.

She then contacted the State Police with what she believed the trooper’s name was, the location and time of the incident.

The subsequent Bureau of Criminal Investigation probe led to Corza’s arrest in mid November.

During that investigation, Corza attempted to return the money to the woman through a third party but did not tell that person why, Wylie said. He said the third-party person does not face any legal consequences.

Corza was assigned to the State Police barracks at Valcour at the time and was initially suspended.

Sgt. Kern Swoboda of the New York State Police Public Information Office said Czora paid a $1,000 fine and had already resigned, effective Nov. 20.

The case was scheduled for AuSable Town Court last Wednesday but was adjourned until yesterday.

Wylie said the case is concluded, as far as his office and the State Police are concerned.

Czora had been a trooper since October 1992. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

E-mail Dan Heath at:

dheath@pressrepublican.com