Staff Report / March 13. 2026
A Branchport man was arrested on felony drunken driving charges after deputies responded to a motor vehicle crash in Yates County over the weekend.
According to the Yates County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a crash on State Route 364 near County House Road in the Town of Benton at approximately 6:02 p.m. on March 7. During the investigation, deputies made contact with the driver, identified as 39-year-old Michael J. Casciani of Branchport.
Authorities said Casciani displayed several signs of intoxication and was asked to complete a series of standardized field sobriety tests. Following the investigation, deputies took him into custody.
Casciani was charged with multiple felony offenses, including driving while intoxicated under common law, driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or greater, and aggravated DWI with a blood alcohol content of 0.18% or higher. He was also cited for moving from a lane unsafely.
He was transported to the Yates County Jail, where he remained in custody pending arraignment in Yates County CAP Court. The Penn Yan Fire Department and Penn Yan Ambulance assisted at the scene of the crash.
