York, NY — A Livingston County man was arrested early Friday morning after deputies say a traffic stop in the Town of York led to felony drug-impaired driving charges.
According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrested a 39-year-old Leicester resident following a stop on Main Street around 12:32 a.m. Friday, December 19. The stop was conducted by a deputy assigned to the Sheriff’s Office STOP DWI Unit after observing violations of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Authorities identified the driver as Matthew Chatt, who deputies allegedly showed signs of drug impairment during the initial roadside encounter. A DWI investigation was conducted, including standardized field sobriety tests. Deputies then took Chatt into custody for Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs (DWAI Drugs), according to the sheriff’s office.
Chatt was transported to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office headquarters in Geneseo, where he was evaluated by a certified Drug Recognition Expert. According to deputies, the evaluator concluded Chatt was allegedly under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant and unable to safely operate a vehicle.
A records check later revealed Chatt had a prior DWI conviction from 2018, elevating the current charge to a felony under state law. Deputies also determined Chatt was allegedly driving with a revoked New York State driver’s license related to the earlier conviction.
Chatt was charged with felony Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, felony Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the First Degree, and multiple traffic violations.
Following arrest processing at the Livingston County Jail, Chatt was arraigned in the Livingston County Centralized Arraignment Part before a Town of Caledonia judge. The judge released him on his own recognizance, as the charges do not qualify for bail under New York’s Bail Reform Act.
The Livingston County Public Defender’s Office represented Chatt at arraignment, while the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office appeared for the prosecution.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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