Virgil man accused of murder enters not guilty plea

CORTLAND, N.Y. — A Virgil man charged with murder in connection with the death of his 6-year-old daughter in an April crash pleaded not guilty during an appearance in Cortland County Court Tuesday.

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Daniel Haynes III, 30, appeared in court Tuesday with his attorney, Emil Rossi, of Syracuse.

Haynes was indicted by a grand jury Nov. 20 on 31 counts, including second degree murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.

Haynes is accused of causing an April 24 crash on West State Road that resulted in the death of his 6-year-old daughter, Alexia Haynes.

Cortland County District Attorney Mark Suben told Judge William Ames Tuesday that his office is ready for the case to move to trial.


Related: Virgil man indicted in crash that killed 6-year-old daughter


Meanwhile, Rossi is seeking a bail application for Haynes, who is being held in Cortland County Jail without bail.

Judge Ames said the court has also received and filed a letter from Ashley Ingrahm, the mother of Alexia Haynes, which he said will be considered in Haynes' bail application.

In the letter, Ingrahm asked Judge Ames to grant Haynes' application for bail.

"We all know that Daniel is going away for quite some time...This is not about me, or anyone else besides our two daughters Ariana Haynes and Asia Haynes," Ingrahm wrote in her letter to Judge Ames. "I asked them what they recently wanted for Christmas and that was for their daddy to be home for that short time what we could possibly have with him. I assure you that he is not a threat to the community or his family."

Ingrahm, who is the mother of the 6-year-old girl that was killed in the crash, told the Cortland Standard in an August interview that she is seeking a lenient prison sentence for Haynes.

Judge Ames is expected to decide whether or not to grant a bail amount to Haynes in a court appearance scheduled for Dec. 15.

Suben recommended Haynes continue to be held in county jail without the possibility of bail.

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