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By: Staff Reporter

Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman announced that Pendleton Town Highway Superintendent Jeffrey Stowell entered a guilty plea today in Niagara County Court to one count of Official Misconduct, a class “A” misdemeanor in violation of NY State Penal Law Section 195.00(1).  This plea was offered after consultation with and approval by the Pendleton Town Supervisor and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office.

This investigation revealed that Mr. Stowell, in an unauthorized exercise of his official function as the Highway Superintendent, directed Town employees to perform work at his private residence and on his personal property during business hours, in addition to using Town equipment to deliver stone and other materials to his private residence.  As a condition of his plea, Mr. Stowell will immediately cease employment with the Town of Pendleton and is barred from any future employment or elected office at the Town.

Investigator Brian Harrer of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office worked extensively with the Town of Pendleton to put this case together before retiring as a distinguished member of law enforcement.

“The Niagara County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to prosecuting all forms of public corruption,” Seaman said.

Sentencing is scheduled before the Hon. Matthew J. Murphy on May 4th.