3 recently plead guilty in County Court
Courthouse begins to reopen with grand jury, some in-person appearances
ALBION – Orleans County Court is gradually reopening although it isn’t fully reopen to the public.
The court is doing some in-person arraignments and some defendants have taken plea offers. Some court proceedings continue through Skype.
Last week the first grand jury was seated since mid-March, when the court systems were largely shut down in the state. The grand jury usually meets in the Public Safety Building but was moved to the main courtroom in the County Courthouse to allow for more social distancing.
Last month, three people pleaded guilty in county court and accepted plea offers.
Those cases include:
• Ronald R. Cook Jr., 36, of Cobleskill, pleaded guilty on July 29 to one count of third-degree rape. He admitted to having sex with a 15-year-old girl who he met through the 4-H program.
Cook could face up to 6 months in the county jail and 10 years on probation when he is sentenced on Oct. 14.
• Deon Jackson, 20, of Medina pleaded guilty on July 2 to second-degree burglary after a home invasion in Medina. He allegedly entered a Medina residence without permission on July 3, 2019 with a BB pistol, and took $1,700 in cash.
As part of the plea, he faces a maximum of five years in state prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 19.
• Kelly Morrison, 45, of Medina pleaded guilty on July 8 to third-degree attempted arson for allegedly setting her house on fire on May 11, 2019 on Gwinn Street.
Morrison faces up to five years in probation and must pay any “reasonable restitution.” She will be sentenced on Sept. 9.
