Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 46-year-old Michael Cronin of Lancaster has been arraigned before Buffalo City Court Judge Barbara Johnson-Lee on one count of Reckless Operation of a Vessel under the navigation law, a misdemeanor, and one count of Imprudent Speed under the navigation law, a violation.

It is alleged that on May 12, 2018, at approximately 11:05 p.m., the defendant was operating a boat on Lake Erie near the City of Buffalo. The defendant and two occupants were allegedly returning to shore from fishing on the lake when the defendant’s boat hit the breakwall. One of the occupants was ejected from the boat and died.

Cronin is scheduled to return on June 5, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. He was released on his own recognizance.

If convicted on the charges, Cronin faces a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and a maximum fine of $500.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher M. McCarthy of the DA’s Vehicular Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.