School administrator accused of threatening motorist with gun pleads not guilty

Ontario, NY (WHAM) — An assistant superintendent for the East Irondequoit Central School District pleaded not guilty Wednesday following a roadside accident last week.

Court documents capture the moment a Wayne County man said Mark Anson pointed a gun at him on the side of Boston Road in Ontario, a claim Anson's attorney denies.

BACKGROUND: East Irondequoit school principal accused of displaying weapon in roadside incident

“My client never pointed a gun at this man,” said Joe D'Amelio, Anson's lawyer. “Even after this verbal altercation, what is this guy doing? He continues to chase my client all over the city of Ontario.”

The other driver, the plaintiff, told police he saw a gray Toyota Tundra driving aggressively on his way home from work. He moved into the other lane to avoid it, but later made the same left turn as the Tundra on Lakeside Road in Ontario. After a few more miles, the Tundra pulled over to the side of the road and the plaintiff pulled in alongside it.

“My client was stuck in his vehicle and did not want to go home or into his house,” D'Amelio said of that moment.

At that moment, the plaintiff says, he looked down the barrel of a gun. The two exchanged words and the other driver followed Anson for a while before losing him on Lake Road. He called 911 and reported the Tundra to the registration office.

New York State Police tracked down Anson at his Ontario home, and according to court documents, he admitted to pointing his gun at the plaintiff.

An indictment filed in court states “The defendant verbally admitted that he had presented his personal and registered pistol.”

“I know the plaintiff – the suing party – probably has their own idea of ​​what happened,” D'Amelio said. “That's what courtrooms and trials are for.”

D'Amelio believes the wrong person was arrested and that the other driver, the plaintiff, was the aggressor.

Anson was arrested and charged with illegal possession of a firearm and menacing. He is due back in Ontario Municipal Court on October 15.

“He did not point a weapon at anyone,” D'Amelio said. “That doesn't mean a gun was drawn or not, but it certainly wasn't pointed at him, and whatever happened did not stop this man from following my client, pursuing him, and continuing to pursue him.”

13WHAM contacted the person who accused Anson of pointing the gun at him and received no response.

Members of the East Irondequoit School District Board of Education declined to comment on Anson's employment status. The acting Wayne County District Attorney also declined to comment.

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