Cayuga Nation conducts first jury trial: Local man ordered to pay fine and restitution

In a landmark moment for the Cayuga Nation’s judicial system, Carlin Seneca-John was fined $5,000 and ordered to pay $3,100 in restitution after being convicted of third-degree criminal mischief. This sentencing by Cayuga Nation Judge Joseph E. Fahey on March 25 followed Seneca-John’s conviction by a jury of Nation citizens in October 2023, stemming from an incident in August 2022 where he damaged a vehicle belonging to a Nation-employed process server.

The trial marks the first jury trial in the Cayuga Nation Court, a significant milestone highlighted by Cayuga Nation Prosecutor Michael A. Kasmarek. He expressed appreciation for the Nation citizens’ participation in the jury selection process and their service, emphasizing the importance of their role in maintaining the impartiality and effectiveness of the Nation’s Criminal Justice System.

Seneca-John’s history of legal issues was noted in a press release from the Nation, including a 2014 guilty plea for felony driving while intoxicated and reckless endangerment, and a 2022 incident involving extensive property damage and subsequent charges in Seneca County.