4 plead guilty to crimes and could get state prison/county jail

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 April 2015 at 12:00 am

ALBION – Four people pleaded guilty to crimes in Orleans County and could face time in state prison or county jail when they are sentenced.

A Medina resident could spend up to five years in state prison for selling cocaine in Medina. Andre D. Shine, 31, of Starr Street, admitted in court on Monday that he sold cocaine on Jan. 25.

He pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. As a second felony offender, the charge would normally carry an 8-year maximum in state prison. As part of a plea deal, Shine would face no more than 5 years. If Judge James Punch says Shine should get more than 5 years in prison, Shine can reject the plea offer and go to trial.

Shine has been in jail on $150,000 bail since January. His attorney, Nathan Pace, asked that bail be lowered to $25,000. Punch reduced it instead to $75,000.

Shine will be sentenced on July 6.


In other cases:

Curtis Stipp, 23, of Countyline Road in Middleport pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, which carries a maximum sentence of 1 to 2 ½ years in state prison.

Stipp admitted he had “100-some” pills of oxycodone and intended to sell it on Nov. 22, 2013. He will be sentenced on July 20.


A resident of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty to violating his probation and was sentenced to a year in the county jail.

Felix Darias, 52, admitted he went to another location without telling the Probation Department, which constitutes a substantial violation of probation.

In February 2012, he was arrested for allegedly possessing fraudulent credit cards and attempting to use them to purchase merchandise at the Wal-Mart in Albion.

Darias could have faced 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison without the plea deal. Judge Punch gave Darias a year in the county jail, with the sentence to take effect immediately.


Lazaro Botello, 24, of Center Road in Kendall pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol on Nov. 26 in Orleans County, when he had a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.21 percent, more than twice the legal limit.

Botello has a prior conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol in June 2012 in the Town of Sweden.

He could face a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison. But as a part of a plea deal, he will face no more than a year in the county jail, plus five years on Probation.

He will be sentenced on July 6.