Matthews pleads guilty to misconduct charge

Watkins Glen--Former Watkins Glen police officer and at one-time sergeant in charge of the department, pled guilty last week to an official misconduct misdemeanor while the perjury charges against him were dismissed.
The Buzzetti Law Office, which represented him in the case, said on Facebook, "While this is a conclusion, the work is far from over. [We] have held the honor of representing the Matthews family throughout this process since the beginning. Our office is looking forward to continuing to assist the family in healing and helping to rebuild."
In a statement to the TV station WENY, attorney Matthew Buzzetti said in part, "On May 20, 2022, Mr. Brandon Matthews made a difficult, but honest and forthright decision. Appearing before the Honorable Scott Miller, Mr. Matthews plead guilty to one count of official misconduct."
Buzzetti further said Mr. Matthews stated at the sentencing: "The only thing I have to say is, here I sit pleading guilty to sleeping on the job, something that happened years ago at my job that I was never punished for by my employer and was promoted twice after the fact. However, I told the truth about it under oath and am now being punished for it because I don't lie."
Both Buzzetti and special prosecutor Yates County District Attorney Todd Casella, did not respond to a REVIEW&EXPRESS request for comment.
Matthews was originally arrested by state police on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, and charged with eight counts of perjury and one count of official misconduct. Those charges were then dismissed and brought before a Schuyler County grand jury that indicted for eight counts of perjury and one count of official misconduct again. At the time of the indictment, Casella said the perjury charges alleged Matthews perjured himself in testimony, while the misconduct related to allegedly sleeping on the job.
Matthews is no longer employed by the village and a civil suit by him and his family against Watkins Glen and the mayor ended earlier this year with a settlement.