Alleged body part thief rejects deal

HILTON, N.Y., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A former funeral director in Hilton, N.Y., has rejected a plea deal in a case in which he allegedly harvested parts from bodies at his funeral home.

The deal, offered by State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Valentino, would have resulted in a 3-to-5 year prison sentence for Jason Gano, 32, former director of Burger Funeral Home, if he had pleaded guilty to the 69-count indictment charging him with looting the cadavers of 24 bodies and selling the parts for medical procedures, the Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle reported Monday.

Adrian Burke, Gano's lawyer, said he explained the deal in detail with his client but Gano rejected the officer.

Gano could face 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors said the trial could last for several weeks.