Man pleads guilty to Wilton homicide

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> A Wilton man pleaded guilty on Monday in Saratoga County Court before Judge James A. Murphy, III to causing the death of Michael Kornacki when he negligently discharged a firearm inside his room at the Crest Inn on Oct. 7, 2018.

The bullet traveled through the wall of the adjoining room where it struck and killed his neighbor.

Daniel A. Salas Miranda,41, resided at the Crest Inn located at 776 State Route 9, Wilton at the time of the incident. Miranda also admitted his guilt with regard to unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm outside of his residence, acknowledging that after negligently firing the pistol, he brought it to another room at the Crest Inn in an attempt to hide it.

Miranda faces charges of Criminally Negligent Homicide,, a class E felony and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a class C violent felony offense.

Saratoga County District

Attorney Karen A. Heggen commended the New York State Police (NYSP) on their thorough investigation in this case.

“The State Police utilized a number of their specialized units during this investigation to provide my office with a solid case,” Heggen said. “Local members of the NYSP Bureau of Criminal Investigation were assisted by fellow NYSP members in the Major Crimes, Forensic Investigation, Computer Crimes and Narcotics Units, resulting in a multi-faceted and complete investigation.”

Heggen had been in regular contact with the victim’s family throughout the proceedings.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 9, 2019, at which time Miranda is expected to be sentenced to concurrent prison terms of 1.33 – 4 years and 10 years, followed by post-release supervision.