A former New York State trooper accused of shooting himself and then lying about it appeared in a Long Island courtroom Wednesday.
Thomas Mascia was expected to enter a guilty plea, but when the judge asked him if he was in good mental health – a routine question – Mascia’s answer was, “No.” He quickly changed his answer to yes, but the judge put the plea on hold after the 27-year-old signed a court document as “Trooper” Mascia even though Mascia has been fired from New York State Police.
“I don’t think what he said was wrong. As I said, you’re undergoing mental health treatment because you shot yourself and lied about it and caused a multiday man hunt for some non-existent shooter. Obviously he’s undergoing some severe mental health issues. Doesn’t mean that he’s not capable of pleading guilty,” defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman said…