BUFFALO, N.Y. — A former Niagara County legislator has pleaded guilty to slashing tires last fall outside a local tavern.
William J. Collins, Sr., 58, of Lockport pleaded guilty Wednesday in Lockport City Court to one count of Harassment in the Second Degree, which is a violation.
Investigators say Collins slashed the tires on the victim's pickup truck while the truck was parked outside a tavern on West Avenue in the City of Lockport.
Surveillance video appears to show the slashing incident around noon on Thursday, Oct. 26.
The video shows a man on one camera walking up to a truck parked outside Attitudes, pulling something out of his pocket, and popping the front passenger tire of the truck.
On a second camera, the man is seen scurrying across the parking lot, then a third camera shows him getting into a different truck and driving off.
2 On Your Side was told by the owner of the surveillance video and the Bar & Grill that they've turned over the footage to Lockport Police for their investigation. The owner asked not to be identified.
It remains unclear why the tire was slashed.
A special prosecutor had to be assigned to the case because of Collins' position in the Niagara County legislature. The case was prosecuted by the Erie County District Attorney's Office.
Collins received a one-year conditional discharge and ordered to serve 50 hours of community service, have no contact with the victim, live a law-abiding life and pay $225 in restitution to the victim.
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