Assemblyman Robert Smullen of Johnstown (R-118th) has pleaded guilty to a violation in connection with a military tax exemption that clouded his race in 2018, according to the Leader Herald.

Smullen was arrested in 2018 after it was discovered that he had signed up for and was receiving a property tax exemption on two different properties, a felony.  The case went to the Schenectady County Grand Jury which recently moved to dispose of the issue and recommend a violation, according to the Leader Herald. Smullen pleaded guilty to the violation.

In a statement released to media, Smullen's attorney Steven Kouray said, “I think that Robert Smullen was needlessly dragged through the mud by his political opponents using our system of law, and ending this quickly is better than taking an unknown chance under our current existing system,” the attorney said. “The recent legislative changes to speedy trial and discovery will go a long way to fix issues needing attention for all the people, including my client.”

Smullen was elected to the Assembly seat previously held by Marc Butler in November when he defeated Herkimer Democrat Keith Rubino.

 

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