Today, in Broome County Court, Terry Zindle (of Windsor, New York) was found not guilty of Burglary in the Second Degree (Class C Violent Felony) and Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class A Misdemeanor), and was found guilty of Harassment in the Second Degree (Violation). The trial was presided over by the Honorable Joseph F. Cawley. Mrs. Zindle appeared in Broome County Court on July 31, 2014, and waived her right to a jury trial and elected to proceed with a bench trial before Judge Cawley. The testimony began and concluded on August 5, 2014; Mrs. Zindle testified in her own behalf. The burglary charge carried up to a maximum of 15 years in state prison and would have been a mandatory minimum state prison sentence of three-and-a-half years. For the harassment conviction, which does not constitute a criminal conviction, Judge Cawley sentenced Mrs. Zindle, in relevant part, to a conditional discharge.
The charges stemmed from an incident on July 25, 2012, at 238 Robinson Street in the City of Binghamton. The prosecution alleged that on that date Mrs. Zindle knowingly and unlawfully entered the Robinson Street residence with the intent to commit a crime therein and that she engaged in conduct which allegedly endangered the welfare of a child. The harassment conviction related to an adult complainant and not the subject child.
Mrs. Zindle was represented by Benjamin K. Bergman, Esq., of the Law Firm of Jackson Bergman, LLP. The prosecution was handled by Senior Assistant District Attorney Veronica M. Krause of the Broome County District Attorney's Office.
