No deal: Brown will takes his chances with a jury

NORWICH – An accused murderer facing life in prison without a possibility of parole rejected a plea bargain offered Wednesday, opting to take his chances with a jury.

Daniel L. Brown Sr., 46, faces counts of first degree murder, rape and assault in the slaying of Tammy L. Periard. The top three counts of his indictment each carry the possibility of 25 years to life in prison. If convicted of only the top count, Brown could face the rest of his life in prison without any chance of parole.

The Chenango County District Attorney’s Office offered a plea bargain that would fully satisfy the first degree murder charges. The agreement would have allowed Brown to plead guilty to second degree murder in exchange for a sentence of 25 years to life, which would hold the possibility of parole. Brown rejected the offer.

County Court Judge Martin E. Smith of Broome denied a motion made by Brown’s public defender, John D. Cameron, to have the grand jury indictments dismissed. A grand jury indicted Brown on two counts of first degree murder, one count of second degree murder, one count of first degree rape, two counts of first degree robbery and one count of first degree assault on April 23.