Contempt For Smiling Vacated, Judge Acknowledges Not Fully Following Procedure
Utica, NY (WIBX) - There is a resolution to an odd story we told you about last week.
Utica City Court Judge Gerald Popeo ordered a 20-year-old man to be held in contempt for 30 days because the man gave him a smirk on more than one occasion.
Judge Popeo vacated that charge in court this morning saying he did not fully follow procedures for contempt, but added that going forward he will continue to demand proper conduct in his courtroom.
The public defender's office admits their client was not 'harmed' by the judge's action because Jeffrey Blunt was being held in jail on an assault charge anyway.
The judge said in court today that procedures for holding someone in contempt of court should include multiple warnings and an opportunity to make corrective action.
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