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Woman accused of threatening deputy with knife plans to proceed in case with new attorney

By Howard B. Owens

A former Le Roy resident who is accused of holding a kitchen knife to the chest of a Sheriff's Deputy last summer is getting a new attorney to handle her criminal case.

Her case may also be consolidated with the case against her husband stemming from the same incident.

Elaina Mead is charged with attempted aggravated assault on a police officer, a Class C felony, menacing a police officer, a Class D felony, and obstructing governmental administration.

Her husband, Donald Mead is charged with assault, 2nd, a Class D felony, criminal possession of a weapon and obstructing governmental administration.

The charges stem from events June 17 at 21 Maple Ave., Le Roy, when Deputy Matthew Butler went to the Mead residence, along with Le Roy PD Officer Emily Clark, to question Michael Mead about an alleged violation of a court order. When Butler reportedly tried to place Michael Mead under arrest, his parents allegedly became involved in a scuffle with Butler and Clark.

Mead allegedly came out of the kitchen with a knife and according to the officers, held it against Butler's chest. Clark reportedly knocked it away and sustained a very minor cut on her hand in the process.

In January, the 43-year-old Elaina entered a guilty plea on an Alford basis, to attempted menacing of a police officer. She would not admit to the factual allegations, but an Alford plea affords a defendant a chance to avoid a jury trial when the evidence seems strong and possibly more time in prison if convicted.

Last month, Elaina Mead withdrew her guilty plea.

Both Elaina and Donald Mead return to court in 10 days for Elaina's new attorney to take over the case and for a possible consolidation of the two cases.

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