$100K bail for Medina man charged with assault, robbery

Holley woman accepted into drug court

ALBION – A Medina man was put in jail today on $100,000 bail after he was arraigned by Orleans County Court Judge James Punch.

William Cruz, 41, of Medina has been charged with third-degree robbery, third-degree assault and petty larceny.

He has two prior felonies, nine misdemeanors and three times before failed to appear at scheduled court appearances, District Attorney Joe Cardone told Punch in court today.

Cruz allegedly beat up a customer outside the VFW in Medina on March 15 and then took the victim’s money.

Punch issued an order of protection for the victim. He also assigned the public defender to represent Cruz, who said he didn’t have any income to hire an attorney.

The judge also accepted Michele Skeps, 42, of Holley into the drug court program, which requires she stay drug-free or face sanctions.

Skeps admitted in court she was in a deep sleep all day on March 22, 2012 and was unable to care for her children. She pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child.

That charge will be dismissed if she successfully completes the drug court program, which will take at least a year. If she does not complete the program, Punch could sentence her to up to a year in jail for endangering the welfare of a child.