Anthony Borrelli

aborrelli@pressconnects.com | @PSBABorrelli

Broome County Legislator Anthony Fiala pleaded guilty Thursday to drunken driving, after a hit-and-run accident Oct. 2 that involved a bicyclist on Clinton Street in Binghamton.

Fiala, 49, appeared in Binghamton City Court with his defense lawyer Jon Blechman for arraignment, but instead pleaded to driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor; and moving from lane unsafely, a violation.

Judge Carol Cocchiola sentenced Fiala to a one-year conditional discharge, a $500 fine plus $395 in court surcharges, and ordered use of an ignition interlock device on any vehicle he owns or operates.

On Oct. 2, at 12:08 a.m., Binghamton police responded to a hit-and-run accident involving a bicyclist at Clinton and Oak streets. Fiala struck the bicyclist and left the scene, police said. The bicyclist received minor injuries and refused treatment.

"I made a mistake. I'm paying for that mistake," Fiala said Thursday outside the courtroom. "Hopefully this will make me a better person."

On Thursday, Fiala admitted he was driving eastbound on Clinton Street and crossed the double yellow line into the westbound lane, which is where the bicyclist was struck.

According to police documents, the bicyclist walked with a noticeable limp after being struck and had a small bloody wound on his head.

Fiala was arrested at his residence on Stanley Street not long after police responded to the accident.

He was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. He was also ticketed for moving from a lane unsafely and refusal of a breath test, both violations.

Fiala could have also been charged with leaving the scene of an accident, according to Assistant District Attorney Chris Brown, but that was taken into account under the plea agreement. He called police about the accident after he got home, Brown said.

Fiala, a Democrat, represents the 13th legislative district, which includes parts of Binghamton's First Ward and the West Side. His mother, former Broome County Executive Barbara Fiala, also a Democrat, is the commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

A former Binghamton City Council member and past chairman of the Broome County Democratic Party, Anthony Fiala was elected to the county legislature in 2012.

On Thursday, he would not comment about continuing to serve on the legislature. He is running for a second term against Republican Karl Bernhardsen, of Binghamton.

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