Pair accused of removing memorial to Marine offered plea deal

The two people accused of illegally taking down a memorial honoring a Marine killed in a crash have been offered a plea deal.

Nicholas Camilli was speeding on his motorcycle in October 2023 on Old Niskayuna Road in Colonie, when a car driven by an 80-year-old man turned left in front of him. Camilli was killed in the collision. A memorial was constructed on property near where the crash occurred.

Jim Morrell Jr. and his wife Megan, were caught on camera at least three times removing the memorial. They are related to the man who hit Camilli. The Morrells own car dealerships and tracking devices showed pieces of the memorial tossed into dumpsters behind two area car dealerships, police said.

An offer was extended to the Morrells at an appearance in Colonie Town Court on Monday. They would pay full restitution and each serve 30 hours of community service in exchange for an offer to plead to disorderly conduct, according to prosecutors.

The Morrells will consider the offer and are scheduled to be back in court on June 30 at 5:30 p.m.