Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Dylan J. Cottingham, 26, of Sullivan, Ohio, was sentenced this morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to 3 ½ years in prison followed by 2 ½ years of post-release supervision.
On Monday, July 29, 2024, at approximately 7:30 a.m., the defendant was driving a tractor trailer westbound on Interstate 90 in the Town of Newstead when he intentionally displayed and pointed a handgun toward another motorist. The defendant recklessly engaging in conduct that created a grave risk of death by firing multiple shots into the victim’s occupied pickup truck as both vehicles were traveling on the thruway. The victim’s vehicle was hit by gunfire, but the driver and the two passengers were not injured during the incident.
After the defendant was located by members of the New York State Police, investigators recovered a loaded pistol. While the defendant had a licensed pistol permit in Ohio, he was not permitted to carry the handgun in New York State. Later the same day, Cottingham was arraigned in Newstead Town Court.
Cottingham pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony) and one count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (Class “D” felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges in full satisfaction of the indictment on December 13, 2024.
DA Keane commends the New York State Police and Tina Pilkey, Chief of the District Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Services Bureau, for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ryan M. Flaherty of the Major Crimes Bureau.
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