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A plea deal has been proposed to Nicole Cooper, a 36-year-old woman from Canaan involved in a hit-and-run incident in Copake. Cooper, indicted on nine charges in October, is accused of hitting Ryan Nielsen's dirt bike on county Route Seven and Birch Hill Road in August, causing him life-threatening injuries. If Cooper accepts the plea deal, she would plead guilty to two of the charges, potentially resulting in a prison sentence.
The case has seen some judicial changes. Columbia County Court Judge Michael C. Howard recused himself due to personal connections with Nielsen's family. Judge Brian J. Herman now presides over the case. The charges against Cooper include second-degree assault with a weapon, first-degree reckless endangerment, and driving while intoxicated, among others. Her blood-alcohol content was reportedly 0.15% at the time of the incident, nearly twice the legal limit.
Cooper allegedly fled the scene after the crash, stole a vehicle, and was later found injured at a residence in Taghkanic. She was transported to Albany Medical Center. Cooper initially pleaded not guilty to all charges at her arraignment. The plea deal, if accepted, could lead to a resolution without a trial, which was tentatively scheduled for next year. Cooper is expected to return to court on Thursday (December 17).
