Yates County’s top prosecutor has announced he is running for re-election.
Todd Casella was first elected to a four-year term as Yates County District Attorney in 2017. Prior to that, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in neighboring Steuben County.
In making the announcement, Casella said it has been an honor to lead the Yates County community through some of what he called the most significant changes to the criminal justice system in a generation. Casella said from the 2020 criminal justice reforms to the legalization of recreational cannabis and a complete restructuring of New York’s rape laws, Yates County has navigated these shifts with resilience and foresight.
“Under my leadership, we have embraced technology, implementing a state-of-the-art digital evidence management system that enables our office to operate more efficiently and effectively. By leveraging technology, we’ve been able to do more with less, while maintaining strong, collaborative partnerships with our law enforcement agencies. As a result, Yates County now serves as the gold standard for District Attorney’s Offices, with numerous counties visiting Yates to learn from our model.
“I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished together, and I remain committed to serving the people of Yates County. That’s why, this November, I am seeking re-election to continue the work I am passionate about, and to ensure justice remains a cornerstone of our community.”
In 2021, Casella was honored as “Prosecutor of the Year” by the New York State Prosecutor’s Training Institute. One year later, he was awarded the “Special Service Award” by the New York State Police for his work in prosecuting a multi-county enterprise corruption case, which led to the forfeiture of over $227,000 in cash and multiple felony convictions.
Casella is currently running unopposed.
In announcing his re-election bid, Casella said he has been endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers and the New York State Police Investigators Association.
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