9 facing drug charges in Orleans, including man for criminally negligent homicide after fatal overdose
Nine people are facing drug charges in Orleans County, including an Akron man for criminally negligent homicide after a fatal drug overdose.
The Orleans County grand jury on Wednesday handed up sealed indictments for 12 individuals following an investigation into the sale and distribution of various controlled substances in the county.
As a result, nine of the 12 warrants were executed by the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, the Albion Police Department, the Medina Police Department and the Holley Police Department.
The following were arrested:
Anthony V. Abraham, 33, of Cedar Street, Akron, who was charged with 1 count of criminally negligent homicide, a class E felony, and 1 count of reckless endangerment in the first degree (class d felony).
He was charged as a result of a fatal overdose investigation conducted by the Medina Police Department with the assistance of the Major Felony Crime Task Force.
Cassandra McGuire, 31, of South Clinton Street, Albion, who was charged with 6 counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, class B felonies, and 6 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, also class B felonies.
Johnny Sponaugle, 45, of Liberty Street, Batavia, who was charged with 1 count each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.
Mathew E. Daugherty, 26, of Ontario Street, Lockport, who was charged with 1 count each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in third degree and criminal possession of controlled substance in the third degree.
Heather R. Conley, 32, of Bates Road, Medina, who was charged with 2 counts each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.
Frederick M. Farro Jr., 44, of West Park Street, Albion, who was charged with 1 count each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, which are class D felonies.
Gary R. Ettinger, 34, of Hamilton Street, Albion, who was charged with 1 each count of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.
Thomas R. Brown, 54, of Thomas Street, Holley, who was charged with 1 count each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.
Edward P. Symonds, 55, of Oak Orchard River Road, Waterport, who was charged with 2 counts each of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.
All of the defendants were arraigned in Orleans County Court by County Court Judge Sanford Church.
Farro was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $10,000 cash bail due to his previous criminal history. All others were released due to the state bail reform law. They are to return back to County Court on June 2 for further court proceedings.
This investigation is ongoing and further arrests are pending, the Task Force said in a news release.
The Genesee County Drug Task Force and the Batavia Police Department also assisted in this investigation.