Two Lockport Residents Convicted of Aggravated DWI in Separate Jury Trials; Both Are Facing Prison Time

LOCKPORT, NY: Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman announced that Niagara County juries returned guilty verdicts in two separate Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated trials in as many weeks.

Peter Brounscheidel, age 30 of Lockport, was convicted of Aggravated DWI and common law DWI by a County Court jury after he drove his car off the road causing property damage in Lockport in September 2022. Brounscheidel registered a .25 BAC on tests administered after the accident by Niagara County Sheriff’s Deputies. A prior DWI conviction elevated Brounscheidel’s charges to a felony for which he faces up to 4 years in prison and a $5,000 fine when he returns to court for sentencing before Lockport City Court and acting County Court Judge William Watson. The trial was prosecuted by Vehicular Crimes Bureau Chief Christine Savoia and Assistant District Attorney Grace Tesmer.

Tharee Park, age 43 of Lockport, was convicted by a Town of Lewiston jury of Aggravated DWI and common law DWI after driving her vehicle off the road and into a tree on private property in January of 2022. Park registered a .26 BAC when Sheriff’s Deputies administered breath tests to her. She faces up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500 when she returns to court to be sentenced by Town Court Justice Hugh Gee. Assistant District Attorney Carrington Crossley handled the trial for the District Attorney’s Office.

“These cases highlight the seriousness of Driving While Intoxicated,” said Seaman. “In both cases the defendants lost control of their vehicles, left the roadway and crashed due to their highly intoxicated state. Fortunately nobody was hurt or killed, but it might have been different.”