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Cassidy, 64, was charged last summer with driving while
intoxicated. He was initially allowed to forego an in-person
appearance at Schodack Town Court that is typically required in
criminal cases because he lives in Florida and the court was
told he was undergoing substance abuse treatment.
Cassidy's lawyer, Lucas Mihuta, was set to sign an agreement
that would have allowed Cassidy to enter a guilty plea on
misdemeanor charges without being present.
But at 11:09 a.m. on Wednesday, the New York Horse racing
Association tweeted that Cassidy was at Saratoga Race Track,
playing bocce with two horse trainers and an equine doctor.
Carmelo Laquidara, Rensselaer County chief assistant district
attorney, said he heard about the tweet from members of the
media, and called the episode "odd and disturbing."
"Once we were made aware of that, we no longer consented to any
plea agreement being done through the mail, through his
attorney," Laquidara said.
Laquidara says his office is still working on a deal with
Cassidy's lawyer but Cassidy will now have to be present at his
next court appearance, scheduled for Sept. 3.
"Any plea agreement that we reach is going to have to be done
personally, with a personal appearance by Mr. Cassidy in court,"
Laquidara said. "Just like everybody else."
Mihuta was not available for comment.
Cassidy, was arrested on Aug. 21, 2013 for felony driving while
intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of .10 percent.
He was convicted of driving while intoxicated in Florida in
2011. In that case his license was suspended and he served one
year of probation.
(Editing by Edith Honan, Sandra Maler and Eric Walsh)
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