Former Niagara County Legislator Pleads Guilty Following Tire Slashing Outside Lockport Tavern

William J. Collins, Sr.

Fifty-eight year-old William J. Collins, Sr. of Lockport pleaded guilty before Lockport City Judge William J. Watson to one count of Harassment in the Second Degree (violation).

On Thursday, October 26, 2023, at approximately 12:00 p.m., the defendant intentionally damaged the property of another person by slashing a tire on the passenger side of the victim’s pickup truck. The crime occurred while the victim’s vehicle was parked outside of a tavern on the 600 block of West Avenue in the City of Lockport.

In November 2023, the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office submitted a petition, requesting that the Court appoint a Special Prosecutor to handle the prosecution of the case as the defendant was serving as a Niagara County Legislator at the time of incident. Niagara County Court Judge Caroline A. Wojtaszek granted the order and appointed our office to serve as the Special Prosecutor.

Collins received a one-year conditional discharge. In addition, Judge Watson ordered the defendant to serve 50 hours of community service, have no contact with the victim, live a law-abiding life and pay $225 in restitution.