Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 26-year-old Jordan X. Ernest of Buffalo pleaded guilty before Buffalo City Court Judge Philip Dabney, Jr. to one count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting (New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law violation). The defendant pleaded guilty to the violation on Tuesday, December 20, 2022.

On Friday, July 1, 2022, at approximately 4:38 a.m., the defendant left the scene of a fire that involved his vehicle on the 600 block of Elk Street in the City of Buffalo. The defendant did not report the incident to police and provided contradicting statements to the Buffalo Police Department and Buffalo Fire Department during their investigation.

Ernest was permitted to plead guilty to the reduced charge on the condition that he complete an alcohol and drug treatment program. He was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department and the Buffalo Fire Department for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Megan A. Connelly of the Buffalo City Court Bureau.