District Attorney Meagan K. Galligan announced that a jury of the Sullivan County Court returned a guilty verdict today at the conclusion of a four-day trial, finding Elgin Cotto, 36, of Kiamesha Lake, guilty of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence, felonies. The evidence established that Cotto’s DNA was found on a loaded 9 mm Star pistol tossed from a vehicle he operated in the area of Fulton Street in the Village of Monticello as police pursued him on a warrant from the State of Minnesota in 2018.

“Illegal possession of loaded handguns undermines the lawful exercise of Second Amendment rights. This defendant’s conduct flies in the face of lawful gun ownership, as demonstrated by his attempt to thwart responsibility by tossing the gun from a moving car, causing it to land among children’s toys in a private driveway,” Galligan said. Galligan thanked the jurors for their service and attention to the details of this case. The jury deliberated for approximately one hour before returning its guilty verdict.

Cotto, who has previous felony convictions in New York and Minnesota, faces up to fifteen years of incarceration at his sentencing before Sullivan County Supreme Court Justice Stephan Schick, currently scheduled for August 19. The case was investigated by the Village of Monticello Police Department, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, and New York State Police Forensic Identification Unit and Crime Lab. Senior Assistant District Attorney Lisa Bondarenka prosecuted the case at trial.