3 are sentenced to prison for drug crimes

ALBION – Three people were sentenced to state prison on Monday for drug crimes in Orleans County.

Christopher J. Price, 28, of 1 Thomas St., Apartment D. in the Holley received the longest sentence at 2 ½ years in prison. He was sentenced for unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine in the third degree. As a second felony offender, he faced a maximum of 1 ½ to 4 years.

Price was arrested on Feb. 4 after an investigation into a methamphetamine manufacturing and distribution operation in Holley.

Price’s attorney asked for leniency for Price who has a young son, requesting shock treatment with discipline and structure for Price. But Orleans County Court Judge James Punch declined the request.

“You let your son down by engaging in this activity,” Punch told Price during sentencing. “I am not going to tolerate you introducing methamphetamine into this community.”

• Andre Coley, 25, of West Bank Street in Albion was sentenced to 2 years in prison and 1 year of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. Colley apologized to his family and the community during sentencing.

Judge Punch sentenced Coley to the Willard drug treatment program through the state corrections system.

“Don’t screw up at Willard and when you get out I hope you get back on track,” Punch said.

• Steven L. Carter, 23, of Rochester was sentenced to a year in prison and one year of post-release supervision. Carter admitted in a previous court appearance to having cocaine during a traffic stop in January on Clarendon Street in the Village of Albion.

Carter has no prior criminal record and was a trustee in the county jail. His attorney, Brian Degnan, said Carter has two children and has been working two jobs. He also had an infant child die, which may have been a factor in his criminal conduct, Degnan said.

“This is not the kind of reaction that makes any kind of sense at all (to losing a child),” Punch said.

• In another case, Maja L. Pugh, 19, of Lockport pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. She admitted to using meth at an Albion apartment on April 19. As part of a plea deal she will face no more than a year in jail when she is sentenced on Nov. 28.