4 plead guilty to crimes in Orleans and could be sentenced to prison
ALBION – Four people pleaded guilty on Monday to crimes in Orleans County and they could be sentenced to state prison.
A Brockport resident admitted he sold cocaine in a sale arranged through a phone call with someone in Orleans County.
Jesus M. Vargas, 35, said he sold the cocaine in Brockport last December. He was arrested in December following an investigation by the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force into the sale and distribution of cocaine and marijuana in Orleans County and Brockport.
Vargas pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. As a second felony offender, he would face a maximum of 1 ½ to 4 years in state prison. As part of a plea deal, he would be sentenced to no more than 2 ½ years in prison. If Judge James Punch gives Vargas more than 2 ½ years, he can withdraw the plea and go to trial.
Vargas will be sentenced on Sept. 14.
Terry R. Johnson, 25, of Medina pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a charge that carries a maximum of 2 to 4 years in state prison. As part of a plea deal, Johnson would face a maximum of 1 ½ to 3 years in prison.
He admitted he knew he was given a forged check and then tried to cash it. Johnson said someone bought his car with a forged check in another person’s name. Johnson told the judge he knew the check was forged.
Joseph Taylor, 18, of Shelby Center pleaded guilty to attempted burglary in the second degree, which carries a maximum of 2 to 7 years in state prison plus 1 ½ to 3 years of post-release supervision.
Taylor admitted in court he broke into a house on Long Bridge Road in Albion on Jan. 15.
He has been in jail on $25,000 bail. After a request from attorney Nathan Pace for a reduction in the bail, Punch lowered it to $20,000 for Taylor, who will be sentenced on Sept. 14.
An Albion teen pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in the fourth degree, which has a maximum sentence of 3 years in state prison, and attempted burglary in the second degree, which carries a maximum sentence of 7 years in state prison.
The boy, 16, could be granted a youthful offender and could face a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison as part of a plea deal. Because the boy from Albion may be given youthful offender status, Orleans Hub won’t publish his name.
The boy admitted in court he entered a house on East State Street on March 10 and stole items. He also admitted in court he jumped on top of an Albion student’s car and was dancing on it on Feb. 11. That caused $3,122 in damage to the car, District Attorney Joe Cardone said.
The boy has been in the county jail on $20,000 bail. He had his bail reduced to $5,000 on Monday. He will be sentenced on Sept. 14.
In another case, Joel Hernandez was sentenced to a year in state prison for driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Hernandez, who has a prior driving while intoxicated charge in Albion, pleaded guilty in March to DWI and AUO on Oct. 26, 2014 in Albion.
