Charges and bail reduced for Medina man who allegedly stabbed Albion teen
ALBION – A Medina man faces less severe charges and a lower bail after he allegedly stabbed an Albion teen multiple times on Oct. 24.
Michael B. Collier Jr., 23, of East Oak Orchard Street was originally arraigned in Orleans County Court on Nov. 2 on second-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. Judge James Punch set bail at $100,000.
Collier has a lengthy criminal history despite being only 23, Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard said in court on Nov. 2. He has two prior felonies, three misdemeanors, two parole revocations and a prior failure to appear in court.
The November arraignment was to set bail. Collier was arraigned in court again on Monday following a grand jury indictment. The grand jury opted not to charge him with criminal possession of a weapon. The victim of the crime has rebounded from his injuries, the DA’s office said.
Collier on Monday was arraigned on second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He allegedly stabbed a 16-year-old from Albion 10 times on Oct. 24, with one of the wounds close to the victim’s heart.
Collier pleaded not guilty to crimes on Monday in County Court. He is represented by attorney Michael O’Keefe, who asked that bail be reduced from $100,000 “so (Collier) can get out and earn a living.”
Punch, citing less serious charges against Collier, agreed to reduce bail to $50,000.
In other cases in County Court:
Two men from Lyndonville admitted to their roles in growing and possessing marijuana.
Nathan Brege, 23, of Cape Drive and his neighbor David Tower, 36, of Cape Drive pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of marijuana in the second degree, which carries a maximum punishment of up to 1 ½ years in state prison. As part of a plea deal they won’t be sentenced to more than a year in jail.
Neither Brege or Tower has a substantial criminal record, Judge Punch said in court.
Tower said in court the marijuana plants were grown in his yard. Both he and Brege said they watered and helped the plants to grow. The plants were seized and weighed more than 6 pounds at a lab in Niagara County.
The two will be sentenced on April 11 at 2 p.m.
A man who has been in prison since Aug. 27, 2012 was assessed as a level 2 sex offender. Ivan Borgyan, 33, allegedly had sexual contact with a 2-year-old girl. He has been in the Mohawk Correctional Facility, serving a maximum sentence of 4 years in prison for first-degree attempted sexual abuse.He could be released Feb. 16, 2016.
Punch said Borgyan had sexual contact with the victim under clothing, and has a history of drug and alcohol abuse, while not accepting responsibility for the crime.
