A former Elmira police officer has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge following an investigation into misconduct during a drug case.
Schuyler County District Attorney Jeremy Hourihan said Shyonna Pacheco, of Breesport, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Elmira City Court to Attempted Hindering Prosecution in the Second Degree. The Schuyler County District Attorney’s Office handled the case due to a conflict or the appearance of a conflict with the Chemung County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities say Pacheco was arrested in October 2025 by the New York State Police on charges including hindering prosecution, obstruction of governmental administration, and official misconduct. The charges stem from her actions while serving as a City of Elmira police officer.
According to prosecutors, Pacheco, 26, admitted to providing confidential information to a relative of an individual who was the target of a felony drug investigation. That information was then passed along to the target, compromising the investigation and any potential prosecutions.
As part of a plea agreement, Pacheco was required to resign from the Elmira Police Department, which she did before appearing in court. Officials said Elmira Police Chief Kristen Thorne received her resignation in the courtroom.
New York State Police also identified additional instances of misconduct involving confidential information during the investigation, though those matters were not prosecuted as part of the plea deal.
Pacheco is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30 at 2:00 p.m. Judge Peter Finnerity has ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed by the Chemung County Probation Department ahead of sentencing.
