ROCHESTER, NY – Christopher Tindal, 29, is looking at a potential five-year stretch in federal prison after admitting he deliberately blew off his sentencing for a prior riot charge. Tindal pleaded guilty to failure to appear before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa this week, adding another layer of trouble to an already messy situation.
The case began when Tindal was initially charged with riot. Released pending sentencing, he was fitted with a GPS ankle bracelet and ordered to show up for all court dates. But on March 28, 2022, Tindal decided to take matters into his own hands – literally. He ripped off the monitoring device, effectively vanishing from authorities’ radar.
His flight didn’t last. The investigation, a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Rochester Police Department, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, quickly zeroed in on the fugitive. The ATF, under Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, led the hunt, working alongside local law enforcement led by Chief David Smith and Sheriff Todd Baxter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher detailed the brazen act in court, emphasizing Tindal’s disregard for the legal process. Removing the GPS monitor and skipping the April 19, 2022 sentencing hearing constituted a clear violation of his release conditions, and now carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a hefty $250,000 fine.
The initial riot charge remains on the books, meaning Tindal will face sentencing for that offense as well, on top of the new failure to appear conviction. This isn’t just about dodging a sentencing date; it’s about undermining the entire justice system, a point prosecutors are likely to drive home when asking Judge Siragusa for a substantial punishment.
Tindal is now scheduled to return to court on August 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. for sentencing. At that time, Judge Siragusa will determine just how much time Tindal will spend paying for his attempt to evade justice. The Grimy Times will be there to report the outcome.
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