Man Admits Striking State Trooper with Car in Binghamton

A Broome County man entered a guilty plea for hitting a New York State Police trooper with a car after a chase in Binghamton.

Prosecutors say 37-year-old James Giacalone of Glen Aubrey accepted a plea deal Monday morning, minutes before jury selection was to get underway in his Broome County Court trial.

Giacalone pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated assault upon a police officer, a felony. He had been facing two attempted murder charges for striking one trooper and nearly hitting another on Binghamton's South Side on January 2.

According to the district attorney's office, Giacalone admitted injuring Trooper Frank Abbott by hitting him with a car.

Authorities had said the trooper shot Giacalone in the face after he was struck by the vehicle. Giacalone ran away but was taken into custody in a residential neighborhood minutes later.

District Attorney Stephen Cornwell said Abbott "still has not returned to work" due to the injuries he sustained in the incident.

Giacalone is expected to be sentenced to 12 years in state prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for November 15.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

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