Albion man sentenced to 2 years in prison for selling cocaine

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 March 2018 at 7:58 am

ALBION – An Albion man was sentenced to 2 years in state prison on Monday after he admitted to selling cocaine.

Patricio A. Borquez, 43, of Desmore Road in Albion was sent to state prison for attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. He admitted in a previous court appearance he had cocaine with the intent to sell it.

Borquez has downplayed his involvement in the alleged drug sales, saying he only was involved in one sale. But District Attorney Joe Cardone said Borquez personally completed several drug transactions.

Borquez faced a maximum of 3 years in state prison. He developed a drug addiction after fracturing his skull in a construction accident and using pain medication, his attorney Mark Lewis said.

Borquez, who has no prior felonies, became addicted to the pain pills and then started using heroin. He sold drugs to support his drug habit, Lewis said.

Sara Sheldon, the interim County Court judge, urged Borquez to complete drug treatment programs while in prison.

“I know I committed a huge mistake,” Borquez said during sentencing.

He insisted he wasn’t involved in multiple sales. Borquez said he became a Christian in jail “and that is what has turned my life around.”

In another sentencing:

Matthew Engert, 26, of Holley was sent back to the county jail for a nine-month sentencne after he violated his probation.

Engert just got out of jail in January. He was on probation for third-degree assault for punching another inmate in the head at the Orleans County Jail on Feb. 14, 2017.

District Attorney Joe Cardone went over Engert’s infractions on probation, including not reporting to probation for three appointments last month, leaving the state without permission, using cocaine and marijuana, being charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to get evaluations for substance abuse, mental health and anger management.

Engert declined to have a pre-sentencing report be done, which would have pushed back his sentencing until April 23. He asked to be sentenced on Monday. He said he does better with the structure of the jail.

Judge Sheldon said many people prefer jail over the rules of probation.

“Mr. Engert, you got to straighten out your life,” she said.

• An Albion man who pleaded guilty to violating terms of his probation had his sentencing postponed by a week because the judge wants to see if he would be eligible for a shock camp.

Kolin McKain, 21, of Albion already has been on probation four times and has twice been convicted of driving while intoxicated. McKain violated probation by repeatedly using drugs and also being found with alcohol.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said McKain has a “sizable drug problem.” McKain faces up to a year in the county jail.

Judge Sheldon said McKain is young and would benefit from shock camp, which she said is run like a boot camp. She first wants to see if that would be an option for McKain.

“I think he needs an attitude adjustment and local time won’t do it,” she said.

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