A Downsville man has pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated in connection with the line-of-duty death of East Branch Assistant Fire Chief Jason McGlone.
Joseph Bellows Jr., 54, had been indicted by a grand jury in September 2025 and taken into custody on Sept. 4 for his involvement in the East Branch fire chief’s death. McGlone, 51, was killed while responding to the scene of a one-car crash into a utility pole on July 17, 2025, on state Highway 30 in the Town of Hancock.
A New York State Police investigation found the crash caused live wires to be dislodged and fall to the ground. A low-hanging electrical wire at the scene was touching the top of the fire truck McGlone was riding in, and he was electrocuted when he exited the truck and touched the metal door and the ground. He died at the scene.
State police said Bellows was driving his GMC truck while intoxicated when it left the roadway and crashed into the electric pole. Bellows was trapped in his vehicle and McGlone and his fellow firefighters responded to the scene to render assistance.
After Bellows was indicted, the case was litigated in Delaware County Court for nearly 10 months, according to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office. The primary argument at issue was whether the prosecution had presented legally sufficient evidence to show that Bellows was criminally responsible for McGlone’s death. After hearing arguments, the court ruled in favor of the district attorney’s office.
Prior to pleading guilty on Sept. 28, Bellows admitted under oath that he was driving his GMC pickup truck while intoxicated by alcohol. He also admitted that as a result of his intoxication, he operated his vehicle in a manner that caused McGlone’s death.
Bellows faces up to two and a third to seven years in state prison for his conviction. His sentencing has been set for 1 p.m. on Sept. 22.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Guilty plea entered in Delaware County fire chief’s line-of-duty death
Reporting by Jillian McCarthy, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jillian McCarthy, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin | USA TODAY Network
