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Worhach sentenced in Broome County District Attorney’s Office corruption scandal

James Worhach was sentenced for his involvement in scandals in the Broome County district attorney's office Thursday.
Vaughn Golden
/
WSKG
James Worhach was sentenced for his involvement in scandals in the Broome County District Attorney’s Office Thursday.

James Worhach was officially sentenced on a felony charge of grand larceny Thursday for charges related to his time in the Broome County District Attorney’s Office.

Worhach will spend 90 days in a state-supervised drug treatment program before being released on parole for two to four years. If Worhach doesn't complete the treatment program he may face prison time instead of parole.

Philip Mueller, one of the special prosecutors brought in to handle the case, called Worhach a “corrupt public official,” but said he hopes he redeems himself.

"He seems genuine about his intention to turn his life around and I really hope that's the case,” Mueller said.

Worhach pleaded guilty to stealing files from his own DWI charges while an executive assistant in the district attorney’s office. He also was part of a scheme to steal money from the office under former District Attorney Steve Cornwell. Cornwell pleaded guilty to felony charges last year.

Judge Donald Cerio oversaw the case. He called Worhach and Cornwell’s actions a “stain on Broome County.”

Updated: March 17, 2023 at 4:25 PM EDT
This story has been updated to add clarity about Worhach's possibility of facing prison time.
Vaughn Golden has been reporting across New York since 2016. Working as a freelancer while studying journalism and economics at Ithaca College, Vaughn has reported for a number of outlets including the Albany Times Union, New York Post, and NPR among others. Prior to coming to WSKG full-time, Vaughn was a reporter for the Watertown Daily Times. Vaughn now covers government and politics for WSKG.