Dansville Man Faces 30 Years at Car Theft and Joyriding Trial

LIVINGSTON COUNTY – A jury trial began Tuesday morning for the Dansville man who could face more than 30 years in prison if found guilty of stealing three cars in Dansville and stealing items from several other cars in several Livingston County towns.

Christopher Swick, 30, is charged with two counts of felony Burglary in the Second Degree, three counts of felony Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, three counts of felony Criminal Mischief, and two counts of misdemeanor Petit Larceny.

Swick, represented by Assistant Public Defender John D’Arpino, refused a plea offer by the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office of a guilty plea to the burglary and 10 years in prison.

Judge Dennis Cohen, who is presiding over the trial, indicated that if Swick is found guilty, he could be sentenced to consecutive, or accumulating, prison time for each count. The total prison time could add up to more than 30 years, longer than Swick has been alive.

Swick was arrested as a suspect in the thefts of three cars and many other petty thefts from parked cars in and around Dansville. He is accused of stealing and joyriding a pickup truck through the woods, badly damaging it in the process. An Avon man, Luis Santos, 20, was accused of riding passenger while Swick allegedly drove the truck through the trees.

The investigations into the alleged incidents were jointly investigated by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, Dansville Police Department, and Mount Morris Police Department.

On Tuesday, First Assistant District Attorney Victor Rowcliffe, who is prosecuting the case, called Livingston County Sheriff’s Sergeant Chad Van Auken and Sheriff’s Investigator Daniel Rittenhouse as witnesses. Van Auken identified photographs of vehicles that Swick allegedly stole and Rittenhouse identified maps of Livingston County showing where the alleged incidents occurred.

At a Dec. 3 court appearance, D’Arpino said that he intends to file a notice of alibi, meaning that he intends to attempt to prove at trial that Swick was somewhere else during one or more of the alleged incidents. However, Judge Cohen ruled against that, saying that D’Arpino had failed to file the paperwork in a timely manner and would not be able to present such evidence.

Swick is currently held at the Livingston County Jail.

The trial will continue Wednesday. Check back to the GeneseeSun.com for further updates.