Austin Man gets Jail for DUI, Theft Charges

COUDERSPORT – An Austin man has been sentenced to serve 3 days to 6 months in jail after pleading guilty to DUI, Receiving Stolen Property and related charges.

Michael J. Dieffenderfer, age 21, was sentenced by Judge Stephen Minor in Potter County court on June 20th.

Dieffenderfer was arrested in March of 2011 after crashing his pickup truck in the Borough of Austin and fleeing the scene. He was later located by Trooper Whitcomb, two blocks from the crash scene, hiding under a truck.

Dieffenderfer was also arrested in May of 2011 for an unrelated incident in which he and two others were accused of stealing coolers from the Hemlock Campground.

For the charge of DUI – 1st Offense (M), he was sentenced to jail and fined $1,000. For the charge of Receiving Stolen Property(M2), he was sentenced to a consecutive term of 18 months probation and fined $200 plus restitution in the amount of $219.70.

Dieffenderfer also pleaded guilty to various summary traffic offenses, for which he was fined.

In addition to jail and probation, he was ordered to perform a total of 35 hours of community service, attend DUI Alcohol Safe Driving School, subject to a Drug & Alcohol Evaluation, attend NA and/or AA meetings as required, and participate in a Victim Impact Panel Presentation.

His license will be suspended for 12 months.