The attempted murder trial of a former Oneida County Sheriff’s Office deputy saw 34 witnesses called to the stand to testify and as the second week nears its end, closing statements and jury deliberation are all that remains.
Aaron Alshaman stood before Judge Robert Bauer at the Oneida Courthouse in Utica on June 24, the seventh day of witness testimony. Alshaman, 29, of Lee Center, is accused of setting fire to a Utica residence on April 9, 2025.
Jennifer Gudnaya called 911 when they became overwhelmed with smoke in the interior of the residence, and fled outside with her infant child and two parents. Investigators ruled the fire was intentionally set and when asked if she knew who could have done it or if there had been any major changes in her life, Gudnaya said she had recently served Alshaman custody papers for their child.
Alshaman is charged with second-degree arson and four counts of second-degree attempted murder. Alshaman pleaded not guilty to all charges and bail was set at $250,000 or $500,000 cash bond.
He had been a member of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office for around five years, serving from Sept. 2020 to March 2023 before serving shortly with the Rome Police Department and returning to the sheriff’s office on August 2024.
If convicted of his top charge alone, second-degree arson, Alshaman faces up to 25 years in state prison.
Oneida County District Attorney Todd Carville said that money and his financial future was the motivation for Aaron Alshaman’s alleged attempted murder and arson.
“What makes this case so disturbing is that Aaron Alshaman, who took an oath to protect, started a fire to the residence of his own son while knowing they were there and with intent to cause the death of his own son,” Carville said. “And he did it while on duty as a sheriff’s duty.”
Defense Attorney John Leonard said that the prosecution was “planting the seed” that Alshaman was a “bad guy” and that it was “crazy” that Alshaman would kill people over paying more child support and that the prosecution’s entire case was circumstantial.
Click here to read about the previous day in court.
“Beyond a reasonable doubt”
As part of his closing statement, Leonard said that according to the judge, the jury must determine “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Alshaman is guilty; but the prosecution had no proven that and instead was “…relying on the power of suggestion” because they chose Alshaman as “their guy.”
“Because he was going through neighborhoods, the prosecution said he was ‘scoping it out,'” Alshaman said. “They want you to believe that he was going through the area to scope it out… And they said he searched the address twice. I asked if it showed he got directions. I asked if it showed he used the map. They said no. Could they find they out? Yes. But they didn’t.”
Closing statements
Leonard said during his closing statement that the prosecution was “bird dogging” his client and that they didn’t
“They focused on one area,” Leonard said. “Where did he go? JPJ’s, that’s why he was in the area. And the prosecution glossed over that.”
He went on to say there was two days of testimony reading text messages that showed no proof that Alshaman started the fire
“They put the focus on Aaron and that was it,” Leonard said. “That’s not what you expect and not what you would hope if you were sitting [as a defendant.] They’re asking you to fill in the blanks.”
Defense closing statement
With testimony finished, defense gave its closing statement to the jury before they go to deliberation.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Testimony in Alshaman trial finishes, jury deliberation to start soon
Reporting by Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
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By Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
