State Sen. Robert Ortt's attempt to have felony charges against him dismissed has been shot down.
Ortt, a North Tonawanda Republican, argued he was denied "his right to provide the Grand Jury with 'relevant and competent evidence concerning the case under consideration.'" But an Albany County judge ruled Monday that Ortt was given the chance to make a statement at the beginning of his appearance in March, but declined.
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has accused Ortt of laundering political donations to personally enrich himself and his wife while he served as Mayor of North Tonawanda.
Ortt has pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of offering a false instrument for filing. He is due back in court in May. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of one and one-third to four years on each count.
