AUBURN — An Auburn man accused of fatally striking a pedestrian with his vehicle earlier this year is now facing a homicide charge.
Christopher G. Dewitt, 31, who allegedly hit and killed a pedestrian with his vehicle Jan. 10 on North Street, was before Judge Thomas Leone for a conference in Cayuga County Court Thursday.
Dewitt was originally charged with the Class D felonies of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and operating a motor vehicle while ability impaired by drugs, plus several traffic infractions.
Dewitt's attorney, Joe Sapio, said in court that afternoon that after a toxicology report for his client was filed, he received an additional charge of aggravated vehicular homicide, a Class B felony.
Cayuga County Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Susan Azzarelli said Dewitt had been offered a sentence of seven to 21 years in state prison for the new charge.
Christopher Dewitt
Sapio said Dewitt was not rejecting the offer from the DA's office, but the attorney wanted more time to review all the body camera footage from Auburn police officers who responded to the accident.
Leone agreed to the request, and set Dewitt's next court appearance for April 24.
After court, Sapio told ÈËÊÞÐÔ½» he wants go through all the footage so he can help Dewitt have everything available to make an informed decision whether to accept the plea offer.
Auburn police said after the accident that Dewitt was driving southbound on North Street at a high rate of speed when his vehicle crossed into the opposite lane and failed to stop at a signal.
The car then hit the pedestrian, who was in the crosswalk at the intersection of North and Lansing streets, police said. The pedestrian was taken to Auburn Community Hospital but passed away that day.
A car-pedestrian accident took place at the intersection of North Street and Lansing Street in Auburn on Jan. 10.
Kevin Rivoli, ÈËÊÞÐÔ½»
Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.