GATES, N.Y. — A Monroe County Court judge has reversed his decision to release a man accused of trying to cover up a fatal drug overdose. 

“The informality of chambers, as opposed to a courtroom, does not lend itself to precise, accurate and adequate recitation of the facts by counsel, or to a carefully considered and prudential exercise of judgment,” said Monroe County Judge Chris Ciaccio. 

Judge Chris Ciaccio is taking responsibility for what he is calling a mistake. He says if he knew about Scott Pernesky’s long criminal history, his decision would have been different. According to the judge, he never received the proper paperwork about Pernesky’s past.  

After more than three months on the run, authorities were able to take Scott Pernesky into custody. According to court documents, Pernesky tried to hide the body of his girlfriend after she died of a heroin overdose in a Gates motel.

He had a bail hearing in front of Judge Ciaccio Friday. During that hearing the county judge decided to release Pernesky without bail and with an electronic ankle bracelet. 

“To Ciaccio’s credit, we all make mistakes, said Gates Town Supervisor, Mark Assini. “He recognized that this was a mistake today and instead of just ignoring it, he corrected it and we are so grateful and thankful for that correction because it now puts people in this community at ease that they will not be put at risk. ” 

Judge Ciaccio changed the decision Monday morning after he said he found out about on Pernesky’s criminal and escape history through the media. Judge Ciaccio says this incident will change the way he does bail hearings from this point forward. 

“For the 27 years I practiced in this court, and for the nearly four-and-one-half years I have been on the bench, it has been the practice in Monroe County Court that bail applications pursuant to where the defendant seeks a hearing because the lower court has denied bail or set an excessive bail, have been done in chambers," Judge Ciaccio said. “That is a mistake, and the practice is now at an end, at least in my court. 

Scott Pernesky is currently in jail on no bail and no release. He was previously convicted on assault, escape and auto theft in Utah and Colorado. His next court date has been set for July 11th in Gates Town Court.