Lancaster Man Indicted on Hate Crime Charges Following Road Rage Incident

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Justin R. Goodrich, 35, of Lancaster, was arraigned this morning before Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi on an indictment charging him with one count of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree as a Hate Crime (Class E felony), one count of Attempted Assault in the Third Degree as a Hate Crime, one count of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class A misdemeanors).

It is alleged that on the morning of Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at approximately 6:50 a.m., the defendant and victim were involved in a road rage-related incident on Union Road in the Town of Cheektowaga. It is alleged that the defendant, with the intent to harass, annoy or alarm, yelled profanity and racial slurs at the victim while their vehicles were stopped at the intersection of Union Road and George Urban Boulevard. The defendant is accused of knowingly acting in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of the two children who were inside the victim's vehicle.

After the adult victim threw coins at the defendant, he allegedly exited his vehicle, reached through the open passenger side window of the victim's vehicle and grabbed one of the children around the collar of their shirt, which caused damage to the clothing. The defendant is accused of attempting to cause physical injury to the child who suffered a scratch on her neck. The defendant allegedly continued to shout racial epithets toward the victims during the commission of the crime.

After the alleged incident, the defendant went back into his vehicle and drove away. The adult victim followed the defendant to a residence on Laurentian Drive where he allegedly continued to shout racial slurs. After the encounter, the adult victim went to the Cheektowaga Police Department to file a report. The defendant, who voluntarily turned himself in to police, was subsequently arrested. A temporary order of protection was issued for the three victims at his arraignment in Cheektowaga Town Court.

Goodrich is scheduled to return on November 17, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. for a pre-trial conference before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case. He remains released on his own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail. The temporary orders of protection, issued on behalf of the adult victim and two children, remain in effect.

If convicted of the highest charge, Goodrich faces up to four years in prison.

DA Keane commends Officer Michael Scapillato of the Cheektowaga Police Department as well as ECDA Confidential Criminal Investigators John Paradowski and Jason Mayhook for their work in this investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Chief Danielle N. D'Abate and Assistant District Attorney Rebecca A. Fioravanti of the Felony Trials Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.