Corasanti juror arraigned on DWI charge

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) - Police say a juror dismissed from the trial of Dr. James Corasanti drove drunk and put lives in danger. He was removed from the jury and authorities say his BAC was more than three times the legal limit.

Michael Barron, 40, says he will fight the charges against him. His attorney at his arraignment tried to get his license returned to him for travel to work and to visit his children, but Judge Daniel Cavarello in the Town of Tonawanda denied that request.

Barron pleaded not guilty to aggravated DWI, DWI, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, and moving from lane unsafely in court on Monday. He is accused of having a .25 percent BAC when police say he struck a utility pole on Elmwood Avenue then left the scene. Attorney Lindsey Copeland from Tom Eoannou's law firm represented Barron at his arraignment.

>> A passerby witnessed the crash and helped police find Barron, who followed him for a distance before arresting him in the Town of Tonawanda

"We will be going to trial. There's no plea offered at this time so we will be going to trial," Copeland said.

Barron had been juror #4 in the DWI/manslaughter trial of Dr. Corasanti. On Day 5 of the Corsanti trial, Barron was dismissed as a juror by Judge Sheila Ditulio.

Tonawanda Police Capt. Jon Scott said, "You would think someone sitting on that type of jury, hearing those graphic details from the accident, that you wouldn't drink and drive, and unfortunately this man did."

Barron works for the Social Security Administration in Amherst.

"Of course he's regretful. It was out of his character, but at this time he is still innocent until proven guilty," Copeland argued.

She said he has no prior arrest record. The police report says Barron told them he only had three Labatt Blues. He underwent three sobriety tests, and the report says Barron failed them all.

News 4 asked Barron if he had anything he wanted to tell the community, to which he responded, "Not at this time."

Dr. Corasanti was aquitted of all felony charges and could face a maximum of a year in jail on misdemeanor DWI charges. Barron could face a maximum sentence of more than a year in jail if convicted on all charges against him.